Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to support male victims of rape and sexual assault.

The Government is committed to ensuring all victims, including male victims, have access to the information and support they need.

The Ministry of Justice is supporting victims with the largest ever investment of over £550 million in victim support services over the next three years. This includes funding for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to commission local victim support services for all victims of crime, based on their assessment of local need, including those affected by rape and sexual assault, and includes the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund (RASASF) which funds over 60 specialist sexual violence support organisations across England and Wales to provide holistic, trauma-informed support to victims, including male victims. The 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line is available to all victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse, regardless of gender. Recent service enhancements mean that callers and webchat users can now request to speak with either a female or male Support Line specialist operator between the peak hours of 8pm and midnight, enabling the service to be responsive to individual needs and preferences.

The Government is also delivering on its commitment to introduce rape and serious sexual offence courts. Victims of rape and sexual offences will experience better, more tailored support and fewer delays. Backed by a £23 million investment, this package of measures will ensure every single Crown Court building in England and Wales has at least one specialist rape and serious sexual offence courtroom by 2028. The package will also deliver new victim-centred court upgrades in the Crown Court such as separate entrances and private waiting rooms and will trial a single point of contact to ensure victims’ needs are met by the courts.

Later this year, we will also deliver on our manifesto commitment to provide free, independent legal advice to adult victims of rape, including male victims, across England and Wales. The service will help victims to understand their rights, including where they are asked to provide personal information or information held on their mobile phone. It will also assist with complaint applications against the police and CPS, compensation claims and the Victim’s Right to Review scheme.