Andy Burnham has committed his government to ‘making whatever improvements we can’ to support victims, ahead of Russell Brand’s sentencing for rape and sexual assault this afternoon.
The prime minister paid tribute to the women who came forward to speak about what the comedian did to them, saying their ‘bravery’ will ‘change the system more broadly’.
Brand, 51, was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison after being found guilty last Thursday of raping a woman in 2009 and sexually assaulting female TV and radio staff between 2004 and 2009.
Speaking at a hospital in Hertfordshire while the sentencing hearing was underway, Burnham said: ‘I don’t think you ever can do enough to get the right support in place for victims to give them the confidence to come forward, because we know that still isn’t there in the way that it should be.
‘But I have already taken a decision to make sure there are rape and serious sexual offence teams in every police force by the end of next year.
‘It was going to be 2029, I brought it forward, and I kind of lean back on my work as mayor of Greater Manchester in this regard.’
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The PM added: ‘There is so much that needs to be done. We have to bring it forward.
‘Obviously today, everybody will be thinking about the women who had the courage to come forward.
‘Their bravery will, I believe, change the system more broadly, and we will be relentless in making whatever improvements we can.’
On Saturday, Burnham said he would ‘look closely’ at remarks from Met police chief Sir Mark Rowley questioning the conduct of some in Brand’s trial.
Brand’s defence barrister Ian Winter KC had told jurors that none of the complainants in the case had ‘resisted, screamed or even tried to leave’.
Asked about those words, Sir Mark said: ‘I think what I’ve heard reported heads towards – it’s getting very close to victim blaming, which is something we’ve thought very hard about in policing and make sure we don’t do.’
He continued: ‘It shouldn’t be possible for inaccurate statements to be made to a jury to suggest that because a rape victim didn’t behave in one way that somehow undermines their case.’
The Victims’ Commissioner has called for a legal duty on judges to explain rape myths and misconceptions in every relevant trial.
Speaking on Times Radio, Burnham said the government would look at how to ‘make sure they do not leave the woman feeling like she is on trial in court’.
He said he was ‘always prepared to make changes’, adding: ‘We need to encourage more women to come forward to report rape, we need to get the conviction rate up.’
Asked if that could mean a change in the law, the PM said: ‘I wouldn’t rule anything out… I will study what’s happened here in great detail.’
Victim Support offers support to survivors of rape and sexual abuse. You can contact them on 0333 300 6389.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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