Dorset Police news site

National Operating Model for rape investigation announced

Today, 10 July 2023, will see a new way of investigating and supporting victims of rape and serious sexual assault officially launched nationwide.

All 43 police forces in England and Wales now have access to tools and guidance as part of the Operation Soteria Bluestone National Operating Model, a new way to investigate rape and sexual offences and to support victims. 

Operation Soteria was launched as part of the government’s end-to-end Rape Review published in June 2021 which established beyond doubt that outcomes for rape and sexual offence cases were unacceptably poor across the country.

Dorset Police has already been responding to the end-to end Rape Review and has been an early adopter of learning from the programme aimed at establishing a suspect focused approach to investigations, with better support for victims and improved training for officers and Police staff.

In the last 18 months, prior to the Force joining Operation Soteria Bluestone and then throughout its rigorous self-assessment for the programme, knowledge from the programme has been shared amongst investigation teams and first responders.

Officers and staff have received enhanced training under the College of Policing sexual assault investigators development programme (SSAIDIP), and the Rape and serious sexual offences Investigative Skills Development Programme (RISDP) is also already being rolled out.

Improved engagement with the CPS around submission of cases for early advice by the CPS has contributed to an increase in the number of charges, and the aim is to ensure more timely, effective investigations.

Dorset Police is working closely with specially trained staff in the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) service and has seen an uplift in the number of trained sexual offence liaison officers (SOLOs). The Force has also achieved the target of returning phones to victims within 24 hours of them when it has been necessary to examine them for supportive evidence.

ACC Rachel Farrell of Dorset Police said: “We are very proud of being part of this transformative programme, a collaboration between police officers and academic researchers. We have contributed to the learning that has been incorporated into the new National Operating Model through self-assessment of our processes and performance and have received positive feedback for our work in this area.

“The tools contained in the National Operating Model will help us to conduct suspect, rather than victim-focused investigations and to better support victims of these crimes all the way from the first call to the police through to referral to our key partners in Wessex CPS and through the criminal justice system.

“We will be reviewing the products published as part of our commitment to continuous improvement in our approach to the investigation of rape and serious sexual offences.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, David Sidwick said: “I am committed to creating an environment in which all residents and visitors to Dorset feel safe from violence, intimidation and harassment. This can only be done by influencing and supporting change within communities, partners, and policing.

“Dorset Police being a part of Operation Soteria is a vital part of this work. I lobbied extensively so that Dorset is at the forefront of change - shifting the emphasis to the suspect has to be the right course of action.

“Make no mistake, tackling sexual offences, rape, domestic abuse, stalking and violence against women and girls are all priority areas, and I will work tirelessly alongside Dorset Police and other partners to drive down sexual crime and make Dorset the safest county”.

Dorset Police encourages all victims of sexual assault to come forward and report it. They will be listened to sympathetically and supported through the criminal justice system, every step of the way.

Victims can also seek help through sexual assault referral centres (SARC) which provide a safe space and dedicated care for people who have been raped, sexually assaulted or abused. They offer specialist practical, medical and emotional support in the first instance.

The research by Operation Soteria Bluestone continues and all victim survivors of rape or sexual assault, aged 18 or over and who have reported the assault to police, are invited to give honest feedback about their experience of the police process in a completely anonymous survey. The survey can be accessed online at the link below and can be completed regardless of how long ago the assault took place and whatever stage the investigation by police is at, whether ongoing or concluded.

Survey for victims of rape and sexual assault | Dorset Police

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