Cumbria Police changing approach to sexual assault cases

This month Cumbria Police are highlighting the work to tackle these offences and the support services available.

Officers are urging anyone who has suffered such abuse to get in touch. Even if victims do not want police involvement, police can help put people in touch with the many services available to help them.

Detective Chief Inspector Vicki Coombes is the rape and serious sexual offences lead for Cumbria Constabulary.

She said: "Sexual offences are horrendous crimes that have a profound and lasting impact on victims - and there is no place for these crimes in society.

"As a police force, we thoroughly investigate any report we receive and ensure survivors of sexual abuse are safeguarded and afforded appropriate support.

"We are committed to pursuing any identified offenders to bring them to justice.

"We have specially trained officers who are experienced in investigating reports of sexual violence and abuse and we work closely with victims to ensure they are supported from the moment they contact us.

"We recognise these crimes can be extremely difficult to speak about, which is why we also provide additional options for those who want to report to the police - and we work closely with support agencies across Cumbria."

What is changing to help victims of sexual offences and target offenders?

During the last two years the force claims to have been making changes to the response to sexual offences, which aim to provide a better service to victims and lead to more offenders being prosecuted.

A new specialist team

The force has formed a dedicated and specially-trained team that works exclusively with victims of rape

This team oversees support to victims to provide evidence and proceed through the criminal justice process while the investigation and the actions of the perpetrator is progressed by trained detectives. The structure is backed up by enhanced training within other roles, such as those officers in response policing and CID.

A commitment over victim mobile phones

DCI Coombes added: "It was established nationally, through engagement with victims’ groups, that handing over a phone for any length of time during what is obviously a traumatic period can be difficult.

"We are already achieving the target of downloading victims’ phones within 24 hours.

"We have dedicated digital forensic technicians who have mobile technology which enables them to travel to victims to download their device, by appointment, which negates the necessity to seize the device at all.

"This has significantly reduced digital intrusion and improved engagement with victims.

"However, we also remain committed to ensuring victims’ mobile phones are only examined when absolutely necessary."

Operation Vigilant

In July 2021, the constabulary launched Operation Vigilant.

This is a perpetrator-focused, uniformed street patrol campaign to identify potential opportunistic offenders in the night-time economy.

Specialist training was given to officers on night shifts in urban areas.

The training provides officers with key identifying markers for potential perpetrators targeting vulnerable people coming out of venues such as pubs and clubs.

The training also looks at public engagement and supporting those in a vulnerable state.

Anyone whose behaviour correlates to any of the key markers will now be stopped by uniformed officers and questions will be asked to establish the circumstances around their activity and behaviour.

It also focusses on having uniformed patrols within areas in the night time economy identified as hot spots where violence against women and girls may occur.

Improving timeliness on rape investigations

The force said it's also been working closely with the CPS over the last two years to improve the timeliness of investigations, with the aspiration to have successful cases charged within 12 months.

DCI Coombes said: "This will still seem like a long time, however previously it was not unusual for cases to take upwards of two years for a decision to be made.

"These improvements are largely down to the excellent working relationship we have with colleagues in the CPS and the introduction of RASSO (rape and serious sexual offence) surgeries which provide consistency and internal governance across the constabulary."

Increased victim engagement

DCI Coombes said: "In May 2023 we recruited a team of RASSO Engagement Officers.

"These officers are trained to provide an enhanced service to victims of rape, allowing the investigating detectives to focus on the behaviour of the perpetrator.

“"he engagement officers support the victim though the evidence gathering stage, through to the criminal proceedings.

"We also work with Victim Support to ensure there is a seamless and consistent victim care service throughout."

DCI Coombes added: "Rape and serious sexual offences are devastating crimes which can have a lasting impact – and the victim is at the centre of our decision-making.

"These crimes are committed primarily by men against women and girls but can also be perpetrated against men and boys – sexual offences can be committed by women."