Tom Little QC successfully defends DPP in the high profile EVAW judicial review challenge relating to rape prosecutions

News | Mon 15th Mar, 2021

The Court of Appeal (Civil Division) this morning handed down an important judgment in a long-running and high profile judicial review challenge brought by the End Violence against Women Coalition against the DPP.

Tom Little QC represented the DPP in this complex litigation involving allegations including systemic illegality, lack of consultation, breach of the Public Sector Equality Duty and lack of transparency.

The Lord Chief Justice in giving the judgment which accepted Tom Little QC’s submissions concluded by stating “We have set out in some detail the summary of the evidence deployed by the DPP which comprehensively undermines the grounds advanced by the claimant. The changes in language in the guidance did not change its effect.  The full Code test remained.  Our more detailed consideration of the materials has resulted in our coming to the same conclusion as did the Divisional Court in essence for the same reasons. In the result we dismiss this application for judicial review.”

Please click here  to read the full judgment.