Prime Minister Andy Burnham plans to review how rape trials are conducted to ensure a woman is not left "feeling like she is on trial in court", following the conviction of comedian and actor Russell Brand.
Mr Burnham's statement comes after Britain's top police officer said the law should be changed so juries are warned against "rape myths". Speaking to Times Radio political editor Anna Mikhailova, Mr Burnham spoke of the need to increase the conviction rate and do more to support victims of sexual assault and rape.
Conviction and call for change
Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a four-week trial, with jurors unanimously convicting him of offences committed between 2004 and 2009.
Mr Burnham said: "I think we need to constantly look at the way rape trials are conducted to make sure that they do not leave the woman feeling like she is on trial in court, as has been the experience of people in the past.
"So I will look closely at what Sir Mark Rowley is saying. Always prepared to make changes. We need to encourage more women to come forward to report rape. We need to get the conviction rate up. It has improved, but not enough."
He added: "We need to do more to support victims of sexual assault and rape, and we will do that as well. All of this is part of our broader agenda as a government, combating violence against women and girls."
Police chief's warning on 'rape myths'
On Friday, Commissioner of Police Sir Mark Rowley accused Brand's defence case of getting "very close to victim blaming". He also warned against propagating "myths" about how victims of sexual offences should behave.
The Metropolitan Police chief added that he expected more victims to come forward after Brand was convicted on Thursday.
Sir Rowley said he supported Victims' Commissioner Claire Waxman, who wants a legal duty in the Courts and Tribunals Bill that would require judges to issue directions to juries on myths and misconceptions in every rape trial.
"I strongly support Claire. 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," Sir Rowley said.
"People fall into myths about [how] a rape victim must behave in a certain way, must react in a certain way."
He added: "The evidence is really clear. Some people will fight. Some people will freeze. Some people will tell people straight away. Some people bottle it up for years."
Brand faces sentencing
Brand faces years in prison when he appears for sentencing on Monday. His barrister, Ian Winter, KC, had told jurors that "none of the complainants had resisted or screamed or even tried to leave".
The prison where Brand will serve his sentence has yet to be determined, with the decision resting with the UK Prison Service. Sources suggest he is temporarily staying in Wandsworth until his sentencing hearing.
Brand has been described as "shaken and quiet" during his first days behind bars, with sources saying he is "in real danger". A source told The Sun: "Brand's first day in jail was a real shock to his system and a wake-up call. He looked shaken and was quiet. A horrible, noisy and dirty jail like Wandsworth is a world away from his glamorous Hollywood lifestyle."
The source added: "Brand has been put in a cell and is being kept away from other inmates because he is in real danger due to his offences, his wealth and who he is."
