Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that women and girls have confidence that reports of sexual violence will be investigated effectively by the police.

Rape and sexual violence are among the most harmful crimes, and we know they, and broader VAWG offences are underreported. This Government is taking action to ensure victims have the confidence to report these offences and trust that they will be taken seriously and supported when they do.

As set out in Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls, we are strengthening the police response to sexual violence. Every police force in England and Wales is to have a specialist rape and sexual offences team by December 2027, 18 months earlier than previously planned. Providing forces with the specialist capability to investigate these offences effectively is vital to improving outcomes and maintaining victims' confidence in the criminal justice system. Alongside these measures, through our cross-government communications campaign Enough, we are seeking to improve the public’s understanding of abusive behaviours.

We are also supporting police forces through the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection to embed Operation Soteria. Operation Soteria provides evidence-based guidance and practical tools, developed in collaboration with academics, to help officers focus investigations on the actions and behaviours of suspects, while ensuring victims are supported.