Sexual Offences
Project Sapphire
Project Sapphire is a Metropolitan Police initiative to improve the care offered to victims of rape, and improve rape investigation. The Project Sapphire website offers not only details and contacts for the Sapphire project, but good advice for members of the public on preventing rape, and additional advice on drug rape, mini-cab rape and male rape.
Project Sapphire takes six strands in its approach to improving care of victims and rape investigation:
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Development of victim examination and medical care facilities, based upon the learning from a local centre of excellence
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Devising and implementing victim care and attrition rate monitoring mechanisms
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Conducting surveys to identify strengths and weaknesses from the victim's perspective
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Establishing dedicated sexual offences investigation teams
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Providing staff with specialist training, management and support
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Establishing systems to regularly monitor and review investigations of rape
The implementation of each of these strands is expanded upon on the Project Sapphire website.
Additionally, the website contains excellent advice for the public on staying safe and avoiding rape. The site has extra sections on drug rape, mini-cab rape and male rape which give extra advice specific to these three types of crime. The website also contains links to many UK and US rape resources.
Visit the Project Sapphire website.
Last update: 05/03/03