Rape and sexual violence
Part of: Police engagement with women and girls Protecting people from violence and abuse Victims and resolutions
We co-ordinate the multi-agency Rape Monitoring Group (RMG) group in England and Wales. This was established in 2007 to promote improvements in response to rape across the criminal justice system.
Our inspections
Progress to introduce a national operating model for rape and other serious sexual offences investigations – 22 August 2024
Operation Soteria is a programme to transform how the Crown Prosecution Service and police forces across England and Wales respond to rape and other serious sexual offences (RASSO).
Since 2021, 19 early adopter forces have been putting Soteria in place via the National Operating Model.
In May 2023, the then Home Secretary commissioned us to carry out this inspection using the powers under section 54(2B) of the Police Act 1996. We inspected 9 early adopter forces to evaluate their progress so far.
Joint thematic inspection of the police and Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS’s) response to rape
In 2021, together with HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, we inspected the investigation and prosecution of rape in England and Wales.
We published our findings for our joint inspection into the investigation and prosecution of rape in England and Wales in two parts. The combined findings provide a comprehensive assessment of the criminal justice system’s current approach to rape, and an account of victims’ experiences of the system.
In both reports, we made a series of practical recommendations to police and prosecutors.
We also commissioned two research reports, to hear about victims’ experiences directly. And we asked police and the CPS, Government departments and victim representative groups for their own qualitative and quantitative data on what it’s like to report a rape in England and Wales today.
Phase one: From report to police or CPS decision to take no further action – 16 July 2021
The first part (phase 1) examined cases from the point when they were reported to the police through to the decision (either by the police or the CPS) to take no further action.
Read the research report: Exploring rape survivors’ experiences of the police and other criminal justice agencies: Phase two
Phase two: Post-charge – 25 February 2022
The second part (phase 2) examined cases from the point of charge through to their conclusion, and includes those which were decided in court.
Read the research report: Exploring rape survivors’ experiences of the police and other criminal justice agencies: Phase two
Previous reports
Previous HMICFRS reports on this topic include:
- Forging the links: Rape investigation and prosecution – February 2012
- Rape offences – investigation and prosecution joint review: Without consent – December 2006
- Rape allegations – investigation and prosecution joint inspection – April 2002
Further information
The charities SafeLives, Refuge and Women’s Aid have more information available for people affected by rape.