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Domestic Domestic Violence

Guidance to Local Partnerships on Tackling Sexual Violence

Sexual violence is a terrible crime which affects women, children, and to a lesser extent, men from all backgrounds. Its impact on the victim can be substantial, affecting mental, physical and sexual health. There are also implications for the police, criminal justice system (CJS) and the health service, not to mention the fear of sexual crime evident in our communities. This guidance is designed to help Partnerships understand how sexual violence affects their area, and to suggest options for solutions where it is a significant problem. It should be read in conjunction with guidance on tackling domestic violence 'Developing Domestic Violence Strategies: A guide for Partnerships'.

Title: Guidance to Local Partnerships on Tackling Sexual Violence
Author: Home Office
Number of pages: 30
Date published: February 2005
Availability: Download full report PDF 127Kb

Sexual violence is best tackled through a multi-agency approach, involving the voluntary sector as well as statutory agencies in the prevention of sexual crime, improved care for victims and a more effective CJS response. Local Partnerships are ideally placed to support work in this area because of their role in bringing together local agencies to deliver the crime reduction agenda. These partnerships now include the police, Primary Care Trusts (or Local Health Boards), local authorities and fire authorities as responsible authorities. They are required to work in co-operation with local education and probation authorities and invite co-operation of a range of local private, voluntary, other public and community groups including the community itself. With the exception of the fire service, these organisations all have a role to play, whether direct or indirect, in addressing sexual violence.

The first half of the guidance:

  • describes the national profile of sexual violence and the impact it has on victims, the community, the Health Service, and CJS

  • sets out some of the particular issues associated with sexual violence, e.g. under-reporting

  • provides advice on how to understand the problem on a local level.

It also suggests which parties should be involved in analysing the problem and developing solutions and provides advice on sources of funding.

The second half of the guidance describes steps which can be taken to:

  1. prevent sexual violence, e.g. through awareness raising, practical measures and early interventions with abusers;

  2. provide care for victims, e.g. through Sexual Assault Referral Centres and voluntary sector provision of counselling and support; and

  3. improve the investigation and prosecution of sexual offence cases, and the management and treatment of offenders.

The guidance illustrates the interventions described with case studies, and sets out the role a Local Partnership can play, together with other statutory agencies and the voluntary and community sector.

Getting a copy

The full report is available as both a Word document and a PDF document.

Last update: 15 February 2005

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