{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/779580.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":779580,"attributes":{"action":"Mandate pre-trial training for jurors in rape and sexual assault trials","background":"Research shows that misconceptions about rape and trauma can influence jurors’ decisions. The UK Government must introduce mandatory training for jurors serving on rape and sexual assault trials to help ensure fairer, evidence-based verdicts, and to reduce the risk of unconscious bias.","additional_details":"Rape and sexual assault cases often rely on witness testimony, making jurors’ understanding of trauma and consent particularly important. Academic research has shown that rape myths can influence jurors’ decisions, with jurors who hold these beliefs being less likely to find defendants guilty. Mandatory, evidence-based training on trauma, consent and victim behaviour should be introduced to jurors serving on sexual violence cases, to help ensure verdicts are based on evidence rather than misconceptions","committee_note":"","state":"open","signature_count":29,"closing_date":"2027-03-14","created_at":"2026-08-13T22:00:41.600Z","updated_at":"2026-09-14T15:07:00.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-09-14T09:47:59.797Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-08-13T22:11:20.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"Anya Penford","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"MoJ","name":"Ministry of Justice","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":29}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Arundel and South Downs","ons_code":"E14001067","mp":"Andrew Griffith MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Birkenhead","ons_code":"E14001091","mp":"Alison McGovern MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Bognor Regis and Littlehampton","ons_code":"E14001108","mp":"Alison Griffiths MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Chatham and Aylesford","ons_code":"E14001157","mp":"Tristan Osborne MP","signature_count":5},{"name":"Derby South","ons_code":"E14001194","mp":"Baggy Shanker MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Grinstead and Uckfield","ons_code":"E14001212","mp":"Mims Davies MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Surrey","ons_code":"E14001215","mp":"Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Wiltshire","ons_code":"E14001217","mp":"Danny Kruger MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Faversham and Mid Kent","ons_code":"E14001235","mp":"Helen Whately MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Gillingham and Rainham","ons_code":"E14001246","mp":"Naushabah Khan MP","signature_count":7},{"name":"Kingswinford and South Staffordshire","ons_code":"E14001316","mp":"Mike Wood MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Old Bexley and Sidcup","ons_code":"E14001414","mp":"Mr Louie French MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Orpington","ons_code":"E14001417","mp":"Gareth Bacon MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Richmond and Northallerton","ons_code":"E14001444","mp":"Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Salisbury","ons_code":"E14001460","mp":"Rt Hon John Glen MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Sevenoaks","ons_code":"E14001465","mp":"Rt Hon Laura Trott MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Sittingbourne and Sheppey","ons_code":"E14001474","mp":"Kevin McKenna MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Vauxhall and Camberwell Green","ons_code":"E14001559","mp":"Florence Eshalomi MP","signature_count":1}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"North West","ons_code":"B","signature_count":1},{"name":"Yorkshire and The Humber","ons_code":"D","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Midlands","ons_code":"E","signature_count":1},{"name":"West Midlands","ons_code":"F","signature_count":1},{"name":"London","ons_code":"H","signature_count":3},{"name":"South East","ons_code":"J","signature_count":20},{"name":"South West","ons_code":"K","signature_count":2}],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}