Andy Burnham says "encourage more women to come forward" on reporting rape

Home Secretary Andy Burnham said he will examine how sexual‑assault cases are handled in court after the recent verdict against comedian Russell Brand, noting that the trial raised concerns that victims can feel scrutinised rather than protected. He indicated he will consider the remarks of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who warned that some testimony in the Brand case bordered on blaming the complainants, and he referenced the Victims’ Commissioner’s call for judges to be required to address common misconceptions about rape during every trial. Burnham said the government intends to improve the proportion of successful prosecutions and to make reporting sexual violence more appealing to women, framing these steps as part of a wider effort to curb violence against females.