A recent survey conducted by Operation Soteria has highlighted significant challenges faced by sexual assault survivors in England and Wales, particularly in their interactions with law enforcement. Of the 5,436 individuals surveyed, approximately 3,000 responses were analyzed, revealing that 73% of respondents reported deteriorated mental health following their experiences with the police. The findings can be accessed in detail through the survey dataset.
Despite 80% of the surveyed survivors having previously reported their assault to the police, only 10% would choose to do so again, reflecting a deep mistrust in the current policing approach. The survey further explored the police’s handling of sexual assault cases and identified that 53.5% of respondents felt their overall experience with the police was worse than expected. Alarmingly, 41.3% expressed that the police never understood the impact the assault had on them.
Operation Soteria aims to address these issues by refocusing investigations towards perpetrator behavior rather than survivor credibility, a shift that aligns with the broader national emphasis on combating violence against women and girls. More information on the operation’s framework can be found on the National Police Chiefs’ Council website.
Additionally, while there are indications of slight progress compared to previous years, the report stresses the persistence of systemic challenges such as societal victim-blaming, institutional racism, and ableism. Criticisms were also directed at the police for “routinely trivialising” reports by teenagers and for not adequately understanding the contexts faced by survivors from diverse backgrounds.
Katrin Hohl, a leading researcher and government advisor on the report, has acknowledged the improvements, yet underscores the long journey ahead. This sentiment is shared by Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, who described the findings as stark and indicative of a police response that is still lacking.
As funding for Operation Soteria is slated to end in March 2025, concerns have been raised about the sustainability of its initiatives. Lady Helen Newlove, the interim Victims’ Commissioner, has called for an extension of funding to ensure continuous progress. The future of police funding is expected to be finalized in December.