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Sexual Violence and Abuse

Welcome to the sexual violence and abuse mini-site. This site is aimed at practitioners who want information on what the government is doing to address all aspects of sexual violence and abuse, and information about what they can do in their field, to improve their response to this terrible crime. It also includes key links to other useful websites.

Government work on sexual violence and abuse is brought together in the cross-government Sexual Violence and Abuse Action Plan (SVAAP), published on 2 April 2007. This includes work underway and work planned for the future to address all aspects of sexual violence, from prevention through to victim care and the response of the criminal justice system. The Action Plan will enable us to achieve a more strategic approach and a greater degree of transparency around Government action to address sexual violence, and link in more closely with other forms of gender-based violence, such as domestic violence, trafficking, and sexual exploitation through prostitution.

There are 3 objectives that we aim to achieve through the Action Plan:

  1. To maximise prevention of sexual violence and abuse
  2. To increase access to support and health services for victims of sexual violence and abuse
  3. To improve the criminal justice response to sexual violence and abuse.

There is currently a review being led by Baroness Stern into the treatment of survivors of rape by the police and other agencies in England and Wales.

For more information, view the Action Plan and Implementation Guide.

Sara Payne Victim Experience Review 

In the summer of 2009 the Home Secretary asked Sara Payne to make recommendations on how the criminal justice system’s response to rape victims could be improved by undertaking a ‘Victim Experience Review’.

The purpose of the review was to understand from the victim’s point of view how the criminal justice system was measuring up, and how it was letting them down.

Sara held a series of focus groups across the country with rape victims, frontline police officers and the Crown Prosecution Service. The findings from the focus groups have helped Sara make her recommendations. The recommendations in this report have contributed to the development of the Violence Against Women and Girls strategy.

 

 

Last update: Tuesday, January 19, 2010