A new survey reveals that while the criminal justice system’s response to rape victims has shown signs of improvement, there remains a significant gap in how survivors feel treated by the police. Conducted over 18 months, the survey of 5,000 rape survivors highlighted that three-quarters of respondents experienced mental health damage due to police actions or inactions. Yet, the recent introduction of the Operation Soteria initiative since 2021 shows early positive results.
The survey found that 75% of rape survivors reported a direct link between their mental health deterioration and the police’s handling of their cases. Victims also expressed a lack of confidence in the system, with only one in 10 saying they would report the crime again. A notable aspect of the survey was that respondents, especially those after 2021, reported fewer mental health repercussions from police interactions down 8% since the initiative’s launch. However, only 40% felt policing was doing a good job, and one in five reported being pressured by officers to withdraw their complaints.
Operation Soteria, which focuses on shifting the blame from victims to perpetrators, has been rolled out across the UK in 2023 following a 2021 rape review. This initiative has resulted in an 18% increase in sexual offence charges, with rape charges rising by 38% in the year ending December 2023. Lead researcher Katrin Hohl noted, “There are green shoots, but there is clearly a long way to go,” suggesting that while some improvements are evident, systemic challenges persist.
While improvements in police empathy and victim support services have been reported, many survivors still face barriers. A significant portion of survivors (46%) said they were either on a waiting list for support or did not have any at all. Police responses are seen as varying, with some officers excelling in empathy while others are only meeting the bare minimum. A crucial finding from the survey was that survivors valued stopping perpetrators from committing future offences over securing a conviction, with 88% prioritizing prevention.
Victims’ commissioner Helen Newlove called for continued funding for Operation Soteria, which is set to expire in March 2025. She warned that withdrawing financial support at this stage would risk undoing recent progress. The Home Office and Ministry of Justice have indicated that funding allocations for 2025-26 will be made in due course.
While progress has been made in improving the police response to rape victims, significant gaps remain. Advocates are urging the government to continue supporting initiatives like Operation Soteria and to focus on empathy and support for survivors to achieve lasting change.
