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Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Debra Shipley (Labour), on Tuesday, 10 June 1997, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 129 members in total.

RAPE LAW REVIEW

That this House believes that there should be a change towards the law concerning rape and a better understanding of the needs of rape victims; urges the removal of the defendant's right to cross examine the victim; requests the restriction of multiple cross-examination of the victim in cases where there is more than one defendant; requests that ID parades be conducted behind mirror glass; urges more consistent sentencing and help for rape victims to re-enter society; urges charges to be brought against people who falsely claim to have been raped; requests that victims be represented in court by their own barrister; and urges that British people who have been raped by British people while overseas should be able to turn to the British legal system for justice.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received 4 amendments.

101A3
after 'victims', insert 'believes that the law should recognise that rape is a serious crime whether it occurred as a betrayal of trust by a person known to the victim or as an attack by a stranger, and judges should take note of widespread public anger at rape cases where the sentences passed appeared inadequate in relation to the severity of the crime; and calls upon the judiciary to recognise that crimes against the person are more heinous than crimes against property'.
101A1
after 'falsely' insert 'and maliciously'
101A2
after 'examine' insert 'in person'
101A4
at end add 'and considers that the previous sexual history of the victim should be raised only in exceptional cases.'.

Secondary information

Type
Early day motion
Reference
101 
101A3 
101A1 
101A2 
101A4 
Session
1997-98
Subjects
Criminal proceedings Rape
Link
View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk