The CPS will have had to come to a judgement that there was sufficient evidence to pursue the case without the victims evidence. This could include the recording of the phone call, behaviour and statements of both parties on their arrival at the premises (which may be caught on bodycams), forensic evidence - fingerprints and blood typing, other evidence including previous call-outs or victims (there are reports of a previous victim). Every charging decision is based on the same two-stage test in the code for crown prosecutors:
• Does the evidence provide a realistic prospect of conviction? That means, having heard the evidence, is a court more likely than not to find the defendant guilty? And:
• Is it in the public interest to prosecute? That means asking questions including how serious the offence is, the harm caused to the victim, the impact on communities and whether prosecution is a proportionate response.”
Its important women and men are treated equally when applying these tests.