Dear All,

It has come to my attention that there is new training which shows that the CPS's thinking has now ‘evolved’.

There is a CPS unit that deals with Rape, Serious Sexual Assault and False Allegations of these crimes called RASSO (Rape and Serious Sexual Offences). This unit conducts regular training up and down the country to update prosecutors on current thinking, practice and how the advice in CPS guidance manuals should be interpreted. This is done to ensure a consistency of approach throughout the country.

I do not have full details of all the training sessions, but certainly one such event happened on 7ᵗʰ-January in the London area. I understand that this training, included updates on ‘Perverting the Course of Justice’ and ‘Wasting Police Time’ i. e. various degrees of lying. Two cases were discussed, which included the Eleanor de Freitas case. Apparently, the current 'evolved' thinking is that this case would not now be seen in the way it was.

As there has been no significant change to CPS guidance in this area, I cannot see what has prompted this ‘evolution’ of thinking - other than a realisation that they now know they got it wrong.

It is really important that the CPS get this right; not just for Eleanor, but for any woman or man who needs to report any concerns in this area!

So, I am going to apply for full details of this training together with the documents that support it, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). It is standard practice for the CPS to share these developments, and they must be crystal clear about this.

However, as I have not had enormous success with my FOIA requests of the CPS in the past, I wonder whether you could assist me?

The CPS department that deals with FOIA requests is the Information Access Team Their email address is IAT@cps.gov.uk Under the subject heading of ‘Revised or Evolved guidance concerning the Eleanor de Freitas case’, could you please send the following email

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please send me a copy of the RASSO training slides dealing with 'Perverting the Course of Justice' used for training of RASSO prosecutors regarding the Eleanor de Freitas case, together with the documents that support what was presented during this training. I am particularly interested in any revised or evolved thinking, together with the basis for any such revised or evolved thinking. This training was presented in January 2025.

Yours sincerely,

Your name.

It would be very easy for the CPS to hide the truth from one or two requestors, but at the time of writing this update, there are over 400 supporters. If only half of you make this FOIA request, then the CPS would have to be opaque with over 200 requestors! If they do that, then watch this space!