Bucks and Herts among sexual violence charities given millions in funding to support victims
The money's coming from the Ministry of Justice
The Ministry of Justice has announced £26m in funding for charities which specialise in supporting victims of rape and sexual violence.
In the South East, eight charities are receiving a share of £4 million, which includes Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Service South Buckinghamshire. They support adults and young people by providing group and peer support, as well as a befriending programme.
Meanwhile, in the East of England, £1.4 million is being given to seven charities across the region.
Included in the funding are Trauma Recovery CIC, a trauma service providing safe spaces for those who have suffered abuse, and are based in Welwyn Garden City, as well as Herts Rape Crisis, who provide a free and confidential service to women aged 18 and over who live in Hertfordshire and have been raped or sexually abused or assaulted.
The funding comes as Crown Prosecution Service data shows charges for adult rape cases increased to 567 in the latest quarter (January to March 2023), that's 5% over the 2016 quarterly average.
In July all 43 police forces across England and Wales, and all rape prosecutors across the country, began implementing a new approach to dealing with rape and other serious sexual offences, ensuring forces conduct through investigations focus on the suspect and centre the needs and rights of the victim.
This new approach, developed through Operation Soteria and previously piloted in 19 police forces and 9 Crown Prosecution Service Areas, uses academic evidence and insight to enable forces and prosecutors to transform their response to rape and serious sexual offences.
The Ministry of Justice says the Rape Review progress report published last month shows improvements have been made in response to rape across every stage of the criminal justice system and, crucially, data suggests more and more victims are reporting these abhorrent crimes to the police – demonstrating an increase in victim confidence.
"Abhorrent crime"
Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, said: “Rape is an abhorrent crime and this government has not shied away from the fact that that victims of sexual violence have been failed by the criminal justice system.
“I have been clear that we must transform the way these investigations are handled, to make sure that all victims have the best support possible throughout the entire process.
"That is why we have funded an ambitious programme, Operation Soteria, to transform the way that rape investigations and prosecutions are handled and progressed.
"All 43 police forces and all CPS areas across England and Wales are implementing the new National Operating Models developed through the programme.
“Alongside the £26m announced today, I have given over £8 million to support police forces keep improving their response to rape and the service they provide to victims, ensuring investigations focus on the suspect, and never on seeking to undermine the account of the victim.”
A £1.2 million training programme has also been launched for Independent Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse Advisors who provide emotional and practical support to victims. The Government is funding 1,000 of these posts and the training to make sure these vulnerable victims get better help and stay engaged with the criminal justice system.