Pre-Trial Therapy - Accompanying note for therapists
Plain-English digest of CPS prosecution guidance.
AI-generated summary — not verbatim. This is a plain-English digest, not the official CPS text. It may omit detail or fall out of date. Do not rely on it for a charging decision — read the full guidance on cps.gov.uk and check the current legislation.
This CPS prosecution guidance provides information for therapists regarding pre-trial therapy for victims of rape and serious sexual assault. It aims to clarify the role of therapy in the context of the criminal justice system and emphasizes the importance of victim wellbeing, data protection, and the implications of various therapeutic approaches. The document is not binding guidance but serves as a supplementary resource for therapy providers.
Key points
- Victims can access therapy without delay due to ongoing investigations.
- Victim health and wellbeing dictate therapy decisions, not criminal justice practitioners.
- Therapists must ensure compliance with data protection regulations when sharing notes with investigators.
- Informed consent regarding data processing should be provided to victims by therapists.
- Timely therapy should not cease during police investigations or trial processes.
- Therapists should engage with victims when sharing information with investigators.
Public-interest factors
- Protecting victim wellbeing
- Ensuring victims are informed about therapy options
- Facilitating victim access to necessary support
- Maintaining privacy and data protection for victims
- Considering victim's views in data sharing decisions
- Supporting victim's recovery and healing process
This is a factual digest of guidance published by the Crown Prosecution Service. Digested 2026-07-15. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the CPS.