A raft of new measures has been introduced to help victims of rape and domestic abuse.

New witness care units will be set up; pre-trial witness interviews held and specialist advisors recruited to ease witnesses through the harrowing process of going to trial.

The move has been announced following a review of the way the Crown Prosecution Service handles cases of rape and domestic violence.

The revised policies are aimed at those who support victims of rape and domestic violence and to provide consistency for prosecutors.

“Rape is one of the most serious offences we deal with and we aim to prosecute each case effectively,” explained Sussex Chief Crown Prosecutor Sarah Jane Gallagher. Mrs Gallagher is the CPS national lead on rape and domestic violence.

“The policies cover the handling of rape cases against female and male victims of all ages, backgrounds and communities.”

Around two thirds of all rape cases prosecuted in Kent in 2008–2009 resulted in convictions (66 out of 101).

In the same period, of the 1,457 domestic violence prosecutions, 1,099 resulted in convictions.

Mrs Gallagher said: “We recognise that nationally the conviction rate for rape and domestic violence is lower than for offences in general, but they are increasing and we continue to work to address this.”

“CPS Kent allocates rape cases to specialist prosecutors. They work closely with the Police to ensure all the evidence is collected and that the correct charge is applied. We are also determined to tackle rape and domestic violence effectively with the help of the voluntary sector.”

The policies were changed following public consultation with focus groups, voluntary and statutory organisations, criminal justice agencies and individuals, including Victim Support, Justice for Women, Women’s Aid, Imkaan, Standing Together, Refuge and the NIA Project.