Sexual Offences

(asked on 17th December 2014) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to encourage victims of sexual assault to report such assaults to the police.


Answered by
Baroness Featherstone Portrait
Baroness Featherstone
This question was answered on 8th January 2015

Rape and sexual violence are devastating crimes and the government remains committed to tackling sexual violence, as set out fully in our Violence against Women and Girls Action Plan updated in March 2014. Supporting victims is at the
heart of this approach, which includes giving victims more confidence to report crimes, and it is encouraging that police recorded crime figures show more victims are having the confidence to come forward. In addition, the volume of
rape referrals from the police rose to 5,850 in 2013-14 – a rise of 446 referrals (8.3%) from 2012-13. 3,621 were charged, the highest volumes and proportions ever and a rise of 732 charged defendants (25.3%) from 2012-13.

We want every report of rape to be treated seriously from the point of disclosure, every victim to be treated with dignity and every investigation and every prosecution to be conducted thoroughly and professionally. Our focus is
on the rights and welfare of the victim and we are committed to ensuring that every victim of rape has access to appropriate support.

We continue to work with the police to look at ways to improve the police response to rape and sexual assault. We have supported the publication of data on rape for every police force in the country as a basis for improving
recording and investigations of rape, and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary have inspected the recording of rape as part of a wider crime recording audit. The new Rape Action Plan, led by the Crown Prosecution Service
and the National Policing Lead for Rape, will aid the government’s drive to ensure that every report is treated seriously and every victim is given the help they deserve.

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