Provision of Support Services to the Victims of Sexual Offence Crim es

The number of sexual offences in the year ending March 2015 was the highest figure recorded by the police since the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in 2002. These ranged from the most serious offences of rape and sexual assault, to other sexual offences like indecent exposure and unwanted touching. Around one in twenty females (aged 16 to 59) reported being a victim of a serious sexual offence since the age of 16. Extending this to include other sexual offences such as sexual threats, unwanted touching or indecent exposure, this increased to one in five females reporting being a victim since the age of 16. Effective service provision and appropriate interventions to identify victims and provide effective care and support are critical for protecting the health and wellbeing of victims. Commissioned services will be expected to work in partnership with multiple agencies, adopting a co-operative and collaborative approach to service provision and ensuring information is shared appropriately to best meet the needs of victims.