Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what timetable she has set for establishing specialist rape and sexual offences teams in every police force.

This Government recognises the devastating impact of sexual violence and that’s why tackling rape and sexual offences is a key part of our mission to halve Violence Against Women and Girls.

It is essential for police forces to have the right specialist capability to support victims and bring perpetrators to justice. This is why we are working closely with policing to ensure every force has a specialist rape and sexual offences team.

Further details will be announced in due course.