§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will initiate reviews of convictions for sexual offences since 1994 which were based on uncorroborated allegations. [HL2239]
§ Lord RookerThe Home Secretary's powers to review criminal convictions came to an end on 31 March 1997. These were replaced by new powers vested in an independent body, the Criminal Cases Review Commission. The commission has a main responsibility under the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 to review suspected miscarriages of justice, and to refer a conviction, verdict, finding or sentence to the appropriate court of appeal when the commission considers that there is a real possibility that it would not be upheld.
There is no central record of convictions for sexual offences since 1994, which were based on uncorroborated allegations. However, it is open to individuals with such a conviction or anyone acting on their behalf to apply to the commission for a case to be reviewed.