New national guidelines for prosecuting cases of child sexual abuse have been welcomed by West Yorkshire prosecutors.
The guidelines, from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, will put the focus on the credibility of the allegation and not to fail to bring cases because of perceieved weaknesses in the victim.
Martin Goldman, Chief Crown Prosecutor for Yorkshire and Humberside, said the way police and prosecutors approached cases of child sexual abuse had to change.
He said: “The guidelines will ensure that our lawyers focus on the overall allegation, rather than the perceived weakness of the person making them. When victims report a burglary, we do not instinctively question their credibility and nor should we when people report allegations of child sexual abuse.
“These cases are not easy, but recent experience has shown that by patiently building a case and ignoring myths and stereotypes about victims, the CPS can prosecute them successfully.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article