Survey finds police investigations into rape and sexual assault are improving but there is still much work to do

Survivors’ experiences of police investigations into rape and sexual assault in England and Wales are improving, according to a report published today.

Although green shoots of progress are emerging, the results are thought-provoking and highlight the connection between police responses and the well-being of survivors. For some, the experience is so bad that they say they will never contact the police again, even if the sexual violence or domestic abuse continues. Survivors experience a subjective loss of access to police protection and criminal justice.

The survey also revealed the important role of independent support workers in the well-being of survivors. But worryingly, the number of survivors waiting for support on waiting lists is increasing.

The report summarizes the findings of a survey of more than 3,000 survivors conducted between July 2023 and June 2024. The survey was a follow-up to the first conducted as part of Operation Soteria, a program aimed at overhauling police responses to reports of rape and serious sexual intercourse. crimes.

The survey’s lead academic was Katrin Hohl OBE, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at City St George’s, University of London, who is also the Government’s Independent Adviser on criminal justice responses to sexual violence.

Key findings

• Distressing consequences: many survivors feel they have lost all access to protection and criminal justice due to avoidable bad experiences with the police
• Green shoots of progress: Survivors’ experiences of police investigations have improved significantly since 2021 and further since 2023; showed that change is possible
• Police investigations have a profound, life-changing impact on survivors (both positive and negative), so it is important that they are done well.
• Access to independent victim support significantly improves survivors’ experiences but leaves more victims on waiting lists
• Survivors report that hearing perpetrators and preventing them from reoffending is more important to them than criminal convictions
• Survivors who are Black or Minority Ethnic, have a physical disability, or have experienced intimate partner violence report much worse experiences with the police.

Police interventions have a significant impact on survivors’ well-being, their access to protection and their access to justice

The survey found that 73 percent of survivors said their mental health had worsened as a result of the police response (or lack thereof) to their case.

Conversely, the police response can be life changing; 1 in 6 participants said that their personal safety and trust in the police increased due to the police’s approach to the case.

Survivors are not asking for the impossible: 47 per cent of those who withdrew from the investigation said more kindness and understanding from officers could have prevented them from withdrawing, while 39 per cent said access to independent victim support could have helped them continue their involvement in the process.

This means that many survivors lose access to police protection and criminal justice due to avoidable bad police experiences.

Operation Soteria’s National Operating Model (NOM) outlines the following recommendations:

• Referring survivors to independent victim support
• Informing victims about their rights
• Protecting survivors from suspect
• We look at all the evidence.

When none of the above steps were taken, only 17% of survivors reported being willing to report a sexual offense to the police again in the future. Once all these steps were taken, 90% of survivors said they would report again.

Change is possible: Green shoots emerge

On average, survivors reported having significantly better experiences with police investigations when their reports occurred in 2021 or later. Satisfaction levels were even higher among survivors who disclosed during or after 2023.

Improvements included survivor reporting:

• Less likely to be asked for intrusive and unnecessarily intimate information, focusing on the credibility of the victim as a victim rather than the actions of the perpetrator
• Greater empathy and better communication between officers
• Feeling like they have some authority over what happens in their case
• Officers take steps to protect them from the suspect and inform them of the victim’s rights.

The report shows cultural change It is possible within the police force.

Independent victim support can improve victim experience

Approximately 39% of participants who withdrew said having a support person would enable them to continue investigating.

But a worrying trend shows that an increasing number of survivors are waiting to receive support due to lack of resources.

As of July 2023, 46% of survivors who reported their situation to the police seeking support had not yet received support or remained on waiting lists.

Survivors seek prevention and verification

The report found that prevention and validation are more important to survivors than criminal conviction.

88% of respondents said that preventing the offender from reoffending was extremely important to them.

Only 56% of respondents said it was extremely important to them that the perpetrator be convicted in court.

Marginalized survivors report worse experiences with police

Survivors’ experiences with the police are much worse if they are Black, minority ethnic or have a physical disability.

Survivors of intimate partner violence consistently report the worst experiences in police investigations.

Professor Katrin Hohl OBE said: “I am extremely grateful for the generosity and courage of the more than 3,000 survivors who have taken part in this survey over the past twelve months. Many are completing this survey in the hope that their voices will be heard and that they can contribute to change.

“The findings demonstrate the profound impact of police investigations on survivors. When officers interact with survivors in a procedurally fair manner and conduct a competent and diligent investigation, there can be enormous benefits to survivors and society at large.”

“The findings are encouraging, showing that participants who reported to police since 2021, and particularly since 2023, had significantly better police experiences, on average, compared to those who reported in previous years.

“Sadly, the findings also show the deep and lasting damage caused by poor policing, with participants saying their mental health would have been worse if the police had handled the case poorly and many would not have reported to the police again. Survivors’ voices are critical to any reform initiative “important” police reactions sexual violence and must remain at the center of policing reform.”

Chief Constable Sarah Crew, NPCC’s head of adult sexual offenses and joint senior owner of Operation Soteria, thanked survivors for taking part in the survey and stressed the need for a whole system. criminal justice Intervention to prevent aid before crimes occur.

Focusing on the results of the review, he said: “Policing is transforming the response to rape and serious sexual offending. Nearly 3,000 people completed this second survey between June 2023 and July 2024. However, we recognize that this survey was not a random sample as people had to choose to complete it. Generalization to all survivors It is crucial that we do not, and that we only use it to inform our future responses.

“These findings show that a good police response is possible and that there has been an improvement in the two and a half years since Operation Soteria began in 2021. The success has been driven by a relentless focus on perpetrators rather than the behavior and background of victims. “We are starting to see this cultural shift. police Forces believe these investigations have been recognized by HMICFRS, which recently praised Soteria as a game-changer in policing.

“We are seeing more cases being referred to prosecutors and more suspects being charged. For example, in the year ending December 2023, sexual offense charges increased by 18% compared to the previous year, while adult rape charges increased by 18% compared to 38% in the same period.

“But the survey shows we have more work to do. It shows that some police officers are still only covering the basics. Disadvantage, discrimination and contextual inadequacy are still felt; only two-fifths of those surveyed agree that policing is doing a good job.” “And more worryingly, 1 in 5 people say they have been pressured to leave work by police officers.”