Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to support victims of rape and sexual violence in Gloucester.

The Ministry of Justice has significantly increased funding for victim and witness support over recent years. As part of this, the Department provides Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) with annual grant funding to commission local practical, emotional, and therapeutic support services for victims of all crime types.

For the financial year 24/25, we are providing £41 million of ringfenced funding for Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) roles, and £21 million of ringfenced funding for community-based domestic abuse and sexual violence services. This is in addition to the core funding the Ministry of Justice provides to PCCs to allocate at their discretion, based on their assessment of local need. Gloucestershire PCC received £1,343,073 in financial year 24/25 to support victims.

Additionally, the MOJ-commissioned 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line, delivered by Rape Crisis England and Wales, provides victims and survivors access to vital help and information whenever they need it. Free and confidential emotional and listening support is available to all victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse aged 16 and over. Where appropriate, the service will signpost victims to longer-term support services, including therapeutic support.

Since May 2024, the Ministry of Justice has also been running a pilot providing free sentencing remarks to victims of rape and serious sexual offences. We will be evaluating the pilot to understand cost, uptake and impact on victims when it ends in May 2025.