In England and Wales, survivors of rape and sexual assault have voiced a powerful message, aligning with Gisèle Pelicot’s words in France: “shame belongs to perpetrators, not them,” as reported by The Guardian.
This statement emerged in the largest-ever survey of sexual assault survivors, released by the government’s key adviser on rape crime.
The survey, which engaged 5,000 survivors over 18 months, reveals critical insights into the ongoing challenges survivors face within the criminal justice system. Three-quarters of respondents reported that their mental health was negatively impacted due to the actions, or inaction, of police. Only one in 10 survivors said they would feel confident in reporting an assault again.
Among respondents after July 2022, there was an 8% decrease in reports of mental health harm caused by police interactions, signalling improvements in victim support and empathy.
While less than half of survivors surveyed believed police were doing a good job, some gains have been noted, particularly since the full rollout of Operation Soteria in 2023. The operation, focused on scrutinising the actions of perpetrators rather than the behaviour of victims, was established following a 2021 rape review that outlined key factors in the declining prosecution rates. Between 2016/17 and 2019/20, rape prosecutions plummeted by 60%, while reports rose. This year alone, charges for sexual offenses increased by 18%, and charges specifically for adult rape rose by 38%.
Findings revealed that since 2021, victims are now less frequently asked to share counselling notes, and there has been a noted improvement in police empathy and responsiveness, with more victims being informed of their rights and connected to support services. Still, the survey identified a shortage of support workers; since July 2023, 46% of respondents were either on waiting lists or did not have access to support.
Sarah Crew, national lead for rape policing and Operation Soteria, acknowledged these gaps. While some officers are demonstrating what “good police responses” can look like, Crew stated that “disadvantage, discrimination, and contextual incompetence are still being felt” by many survivors.
Survivors also highlighted that their top priority is preventing future offenses rather than securing a conviction. Given a list of positive outcomes, 88% of respondents ranked stopping perpetrators as “extremely important,” while 56% prioritized a conviction.
The victims’ commissioner, Helen Newlove, has urged the Home Office to extend funding for Operation Soteria beyond its current March 2025 expiration date, stressing that ending support prematurely could undermine progress. The Home Office has indicated that funding allocations for 2025-26 are forthcoming, and the Ministry of Justice has allocated £49 million to support victims, including those affected by rape.
