Operation Soteria: improved victim experiences encouraging, but real areas of concern remain

Survivors’ experiences of police investigations into rape and sexual assault in England and Wales are improving, according to the findings from a new report.

The report is the second to document findings of an online survey of survivors of rape and sexual assault and their experiences of the police in England and Wales.

The report outlines findings from a survey of over 3,000 survivors collected between July 2023 and June 2024.

The survey was a continuation of an initial survey conducted as part of Operation Soteria, a Home Office funded programme aimed at overhauling police responses to reports of rape and serious sexual offences.

It follows on from the report Rape and sexual assault survivors’ experience of the police in England and Wales. Survey Report I: January – June 2023 published last year.

Commenting on the findings, the Victims’ Commissioner, Baroness Newlove, said:

I welcome the publication of these findings, all the more so as it is based upon first-hand accounts of victims of sexual violence.

These voices tell us how they perceive the criminal justice system and it clear they are not always receiving the support they deserve.

All victims are right to expect the best possible treatment when reporting a crime. The findings highlight how crucial it is for victims to be met with empathy and understanding when engaging with police.

I am encouraged to hear experiences appear to be improving overall, albeit from a low base. Some victims report increased feelings of agency, better safeguarding of their privacy, as well as improved empathy and communication among officers. This is promising.

Nevertheless, real areas of concern remain. Many victims reported poor experiences, with certain minoritised groups, such as disabled victims, disproportionately affected. This aligns with what these victims also tell me. If their needs remain unmet, this will drive distrust and fuel underreporting.

The report found that independent victim support can dramatically improve survivor experience. My own research draws the same conclusion. However, not all respondents who wanted independent support received it. This needs to be urgently addressed. I recognise we are in a difficult financial climate, but it is so important these services, which include reliable access to Independent Sexual Violence Advisors, are sustainably funded.

This also applies to the National Operating Model, the investigation approach born out of Operation Soteria. I am concerned that withdrawing funding, right when it is still taking root, risks jeopardising tangible progress.

Operation Soteria is bringing about long overdue and urgently needed improvements across policing. What this report tells us is that whilst it is a powerful vehicle for change, it is not a miracle cure. We need to make sure it is properly resourced alongside the independent victim support services which underpin it.

The government is committed to halving violence against women and girls in a decade. Soteria has a critical role to play in reaching this ambition.

ENDS

Editor’s Notes:

• The National Operating Model sets out an approach to rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO) investigations that is victim-centred, suspect-focused and context-led. Led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), police forces have collaborated with academics to use research, evidence and new insight to develop the model and improve the response to victims.
• Imminent withdrawal of funding for Operation Soteria: The Victims’ Commissioner understands that Home Office funding for Operation Soteria is set to end at the end of 2024/25 financial year. The Victims’ Commissioner is calling for this funding to be extended to at least 2025/26.
• Victims’ Commissioner findings on disabled victims:  The Victims’ Commissioner’s 2023 Victim Survey revealed that disabled victims were significantly more dissatisfied with the police response to reported crimes compared to non-disabled victims. Nearly half (45%) of disabled victims expressed dissatisfaction with the police response and were also less likely to report a crime to the police in the future.
• Lack of data on protected characteristics: There is a significant lack of data on victims in England and Wales. For instance, national police-recorded data on ethnicity and other protected characteristics are not available, limiting the evidence base and hindering insight into victims’ experiences and potential disparities between different victim groups. To address this gap, the Victims’ Commissioner has previously called for consistent data collection on victims and their personal characteristics. For more details, see Recommendation 14 in the Victims’ Commissioner’s 2023 victim survey.
• The Operation Soteria Bluestone victim survey (2021-2022): An independent piece of research within Operation Soteria, a Home Office-funded initiative, launched in 2021 as part of the government’s end-to-end Rape Review. The survey documented rape and sexual assault survivors’ experiences of the police. This was important as the end-to-end Rape Review was criticised for not including any similar initiative capturing victim experiences.
• Operation Soteria and the courts: The end-to-end Rape Review did not extend to the court system. It is crucial that we understand how the National Operating Model impacts on court proceedings, outcomes and the victim’s experience. The Victims’ Commissioner is currently undertaking research looking at how delays caused by the Crown Courts backlog impact on victims. However, the Victims’ Commissioner would welcome further in-depth research from the Soteria Unit to deepen this understanding.