Category: Sexual violence

Office of the Commissioner and Surrey Police staff in a meeting at the PCCs office

“Time for change”: Commissioner hails new national programme aimed at driving up convictions for serious sexual offences

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner has hailed the arrival of a new national programme aimed at driving up convictions for rape and other serious sexual offences.

Lisa Townsend spoke out after every police force in England and Wales signed up to Operation Soteria, a joint policing and prosecutions programme.

The Home Office-funded initiative aims to develop new operating models for the investigation and prosecution of rape in a bid to increase the number of cases reaching court by more than double.

Lisa recently hosted Edward Argar, the Minister for Victims and Sentencing, to discuss the implementation of Soteria.

Pictured l-r are DCC Nev Kemp, Lisa Townsend, Edward Argar, Head of Commissioning Lisa Herrington, and Chief Constable Tim De Meyer

During the MP’s visit to Guildford, he joined a tour of Surrey’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) to learn more about the work that is currently being done to support survivors.

One of the key priorities in Lisa’s Police and Crime Plan is to tackle violence against women and girls. Her office commissions a network of services focusing on crime prevention and victim support.

Police in Surrey are already dedicated to improving convictions for serious sexual offending, and specially-trained Sexual Offence Liaison Officers were introduced in 2020 to support victims.

As part of Soteria, officers dealing with traumatic cases will also receive more support.

‘We know something has to change’

Lisa said: “There are many wonderful initiatives that I’m proud to champion and support in this county.

“However, it indisputably remains that convictions for sexual violence in Surrey and the wider UK are shockingly low.

“While reports made about a serious sexual offence in the county have seen a sustained drop over the past 12 months, and Surrey’s solved outcome rate for these reports is currently higher than the national average, we know that something has to change.

“We’re absolutely committed to bringing more criminals to justice and supporting victims as they navigate the legal system.

Commissioner’s vow

“However, it’s also important to say that those who aren’t yet ready to disclose offences to the police can still access the services of both RASASC and the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, even if they decide to remain anonymous.

“We also know there is more work to be done to support those affected by this terrible crime. A key issue in this county is a lack of appropriate counselling services, and we are taking steps to address this.

“I would urge anyone suffering in silence to come forward, no matter the circumstances. You will find support and kindness from our officers here in Surrey, and from the organisations and charities established to help survivors.

“You are not alone.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend and colleagues in sunny outside photo

Commissioner secures £2m in government funding for new Domestic Abuse Hub in Surrey

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A major £2million project to tackle domestic abuse and stalking in Surrey has been given the green light following a successful bid for government funding by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.

The Home Office perpetrator funding was secured by Commissioner Lisa Townsend’s team as part of a national programme to provide support to those responsible for harmful behaviour with the aim of helping change the way they think and behave.

The funding, spread over the next two years, will be used to create a Domestic Abuse Hub which will be open to any adult in Surrey and give participants the skills to be able to make positive, long-lasting changes in their lives.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend, third from left, with commissioning team Louise Andrews, left, Lisa Herrington, second from left, and Lucy Thomas, right

It will be made up of a team of ‘intervention navigators’ who will be experts from a range of specialist services. They will provide support to adults and children affected by the individual’s harmful behaviour, helping them to feel safe, able to cope and heal from their experiences.  

There will also be specially tailored support for young people who may be using violence in their own young relationships or towards their parents or carers.

The Hub will work together with other agencies across the county to help those who have been abusers to address compulsive and obsessive behaviours and help protect all victims far earlier.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “This is really great news – my team have worked incredibly hard to secure this funding, which I believe will make a significant difference to the lives of many people in Surrey.

‘Great news’

“Reducing violence against women and girls is a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan, and my commitment in Surrey is to work with our partners to create a county that is not only safe for all residents, but feels safe too.

“This initiative allows services to move away from a reactive approach – where an incident has already happened – to a more proactive system. This work will involve entire families and improve access to specialist services for those who may otherwise have no way of reaching out for help.

“It will also unite the organisations and charities already doing such fantastic work in this area so we can deliver a service that supports all who are in need.

“We know that working with those responsible for abusive and harmful behaviour can heighten the risk to those whose lives they have affected. This funding allows us to manage that risk far more effectively.”

Last year, Lisa announced a successful bid for a £1m Home Office grant to challenge violence and abuse. The grant has been used to fund teacher training and a public campaign to help children and young people.

Funding boost

She also recently secured £175,000 from the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund to improve safety for women and girls using the Basingstoke Canal in Woking. The project claimed a prestigious Tilley Award at a ceremony in October.

Surrey Police‘s Domestic Abuse Lead, Detective Superintendent Amy Buffoni, said: “We are delighted the Police and Crime Commissioner has secured this funding, which will help us in providing effective interventions, focused on offending behaviour.

“The new hub will be staffed with skilled and experienced domestic abuse staff, navigating individuals into programmes which are specifically designed to enhance the safety of survivors.

“They will ensure we hold individuals accountable and responsible for their behaviour, while treating them with respect, and offering opportunities for lasting change.”

‘Vile crimes’

Safeguarding Minister Sarah Dines said: “Domestic abuse and stalking are vile crimes which cause victims to feel terror in their own homes and communities, where they should feel their safest.

“It is unacceptable and this government is determined to protect people from this horrific abuse.

“We know that intervention schemes like these are a crucial means of protecting victims, which is why we are investing millions in helping police identify abusive behaviour and stop it from escalating or happening again.”

  • Anyone in need of advice or support will be able to contact the Hub directly, and the service’s phone number will be shared across a number of services, including in Surrey schools. The Hub will also accept referrals from Surrey Checkpoint, a deferred prosecution scheme for lower-level offences that aims to reduce reoffending, as well as a range of other organisations, including local authorities and drug and alcohol abuse support services.
Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend marches with ZONTA women's rights organisation

Commissioner vows to tackle violence against women and girls on international day of action

Posted on | by James Smith

Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner has reaffirmed her commitment to tackling violence against women and girls as the world marks the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Lisa Townsend, who has made the issue a key priority in her Police and Crime Plan, urged anyone suffering from violence to come forward and have their voices heard.

The Commissioner has directed around £3.4million in funding over the course of the financial year towards tackling the issue. Many of the grants, awarded by various Government bodies, were spent on spent on services that support victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend marches with Zonta women's rights organisation in Guildford

Lisa last month announced a successful bid for a £1m Home Office grant to challenge violence and abuse, which will be used on teacher training and public campaigning to help children and young people now and in the future.

She also recently secured £175,000 from the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund to improve safety for women and girls using the Basingstoke Canal in Woking. The project claimed a prestigious Tilley Award at a ceremony in October.

Violence against women and girls encompasses a range of offences, from stalking to sexual assault and so-called ‘honour’-based violence. The county has at least 1,000 known repeat perpetrators of domestic violence.

In June last year, Surrey Police launched its Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy which is supported by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, the local authority and various community groups.

The strategy, which aims to create a whole-system approach informed by survivors and those with experience of violence, followed a survey designed to better understand how safe women and girls feel in the county.

Lisa said: “My commitment in Surrey is work with our partners to create a county that not only is safe for women and girls, but also feels safe.

“The message to anyone suffering from violence is to call Surrey Police and report it. The Force was one of the first in the UK to launch a violence against women and girls strategy and our officers will always listen and help those in need.

‘OUR OFFICERS WILL ALWAYS LISTEN’

“No matter what has happened, Surrey Police will support all survivors and I know our officers are determined to doing all they can to inspire trust and ensure residents are safe on our streets and in their homes.

“We must continue to work with the wider criminal justice system to pursue offenders and improve the experience for victims while making sure they are fully supported in their recovery.

“I am also committed to continuing to support those projects that can help challenge and change perpetrators’ behaviour and do everything we can to end the cycle of violence against women and girls in our communities.”

To report a crime, call 101 or visit the Surrey Police website. Always call 999 in an emergency.

Commissioner’s office extends funds to help young people affected by sexual violence

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Nearly half a million pounds in fresh funding to support children and young people at risk of sexual exploitation has been pledged by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey for the next three years.

Grants from the Commissioner’s Victims’ Fund will enable two Surrey organisations to continue vital support for young people to cope and recover from their experiences, and to provide specialist education and advice to guide potential victims away from harmful relationships.

YMCA DownsLink group’s WiSE project will receive a further £240,000 from the Commissioner’s Office between 2022-24 that will fund two specialist workers to provide one-to-one emotional and practical support to up to 40 individuals at risk of or affected by sexual exploitation.

Working closely with other agencies, the service will help extend the age range for those accessing support in Surrey, providing independent support to individuals aged up to 25 years.

Funding is also being provided to Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to sustain the employment of two Independent Child and Young Persons Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (CISVAs) who work closely with children and young people who are affected by sexual violence, including rape.

Working hand in hand with Surrey’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) – they will provide practical support in the immediate aftermath of a crime, help individuals to navigate the criminal justice system and work with agencies to ensure that survivors’ needs are prioritised.

CISVAs play an important role in supporting the mental health of young people affected by crimes such as rape, helping victims to learn coping strategies and manage conditions such as self-harm and depression in order to rebuild their lives.

Funding for both services forms part of the Commissioner’s commitment to prevent harm in Surrey’s communities. This includes reducing violence against women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by sexual offences.

Between April 2021 and March 2022, the Commissioner provided more than £476,000 to organisations supporting survivors of rape and sexual assault. By committing to longer term support for both organisations in 2022, the Commissioner hopes to reduce the vulnerabilities that community services often face due to funding that is short term.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, who is leading the Office’s focus on children and young people, said: “We are really pleased to extend this important funding as part of our ongoing work with partners right across the county to prevent exploitation and support the survivors of sexual violence. Protecting people from harm is an important part of our Police and Crime Plan for Surrey and tackling exploitation and sexual violence are some of the key factors to achieving that.

“Both the Commissioner and I are passionate about ensuring the safety and happiness of children and young people across our county.

Whilst it is important to recognise that the vast majority of children and young people in Surrey will grow up happy and healthy, those who are affected by harmful relationships deserve the specialist support that organisations like YMCA DownsLink Group and individuals like CISVAs can provide.”

Rachael Toner, Head of YMCA DownsLink Group’s Youth Information, Advice and Counselling Services & Targeted Services, said: “The grant from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office enables this vital support for the most vulnerable young people in Surrey to continue at a time when the impact of male violence toward women and girls is being more widely recognised and better understood, and investing in essential support services has never been more needed.

“YMCA WiSE works with under 26-year-olds and creates a safe, non-judgemental space where young people feel listened to and accepted, can start to understand the exploitation they have experienced, start to heal and begin to get their lives back.”

Surrey has the second lowest level of recorded cases of rape per 1000 people. In the year ending December 2021, Surrey Police saw an increase of 20% in reported cases of serious sexual offences compared to the same period in 2020 (324 more cases). This compares to a rise of over 12% of all sexual offences reported to police forces in the year to September 2021.

As part of the Force’s Rape & Serious Sexual Offence Improvement Strategy 2021/22, Surrey Police maintain a dedicated Rape and Serious Offence Investigation Team, supported by a new team of Sexual Offence Liaison Officers established in partnership with the Commissioner’s office.

Anyone who is concerned about a young person or child is encouraged to contact the Surrey Children’s Single Point of Access on 0300 470 9100 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday) or at cspa@surreycc.gov.uk. The service is also available out of hours on 01483 517898.

If you have been raped, sexually assaulted or abused and don’t know where to turn, you can find your nearest SARC at www.nhs.uk/SARCs

You can contact Surrey Police using 101, on Surrey Police social media pages or at www.surrey.police.uk. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

“We owe it to victims to pursue justice relentlessly.” – PCC Lisa Townsend responds to government review into rape and sexual violence

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has welcomed the results of a wide-reaching review to achieve justice for more victims of rape and sexual assault.

Reforms unveiled by the Government today include providing greater support for victims of rape and serious sexual offences, and new monitoring of the services and agencies involved to improve outcomes.

The measures follow a review by the Ministry of Justice into the decline in the number of charges, prosecutions and convictions for rape achieved across England and Wales in the last five years.

An increased focus will be given to reduce the number of victims that withdraw from giving evidence because of delays and lack of support, and on ensuring the investigation of rape and sexual offences goes further to address the behaviour of perpetrators.

The results of the review concluded the national response to rape was ‘totally unacceptable’ – promising to return positive outcomes to 2016 levels.

PCC for Surrey Lisa Townsend said: “We must take every possible opportunity to relentlessly pursue justice for individuals affected by rape and sexual violence. These are devastating crimes that too often fall short of the response we expect and want to give to all victims.

“This is a crucial reminder that we owe it to every victim of crime to provide a sensitive, timely and consistent response to these awful crimes.

“Reducing violence against women and girls is at the heart of my commitment to Surrey residents. I’m proud that this an area where much important work is already being led by Surrey Police, our office and partners in the areas highlighted by today’s report.

“It’s so important that this is backed by tough measures that place the pressure from investigations squarely on the perpetrator.”

In 2020/21, the Office of the PCC provided more funds to address violence against women and girls than ever before.

The PCC invested heavily in services for victims of rape and sexual assault, with over £500,000 of funding made available to local support organisations.

With this money the OPCC has provided a wide range of local services, including counselling, dedicated services for children, a confidential helpline and professional support for individuals navigating the criminal justice system.

The PCC will continue to work closely with all our dedicated service providers to ensure that victims of rape and sexual assault in Surrey are properly supported.

In 2020, Surrey Police and Sussex Police established a new group with the South East Crown Prosecution Service and Kent Police to drive improvements in the outcomes of rape reports.

As part of the Force’s Rape & Serious Sexual Offence Improvement Strategy 2021/22, Surrey Police maintain a dedicated Rape and Serious Offence Investigation Team, supported by a new team of Sexual Offence Liaison Officers and more officers trained as Rape Investigation Specialists.

Detective Chief Inspector Adam Tatton from Surrey Police’s Sexual Offences Investigation Team said: “We welcome the findings of this review which has highlighted several issues across the whole of the justice system. We will be looking at all the recommendations so we can improve even further but I want to reassure victims in Surrey that our team has been working to address many of these issues already.

“One example highlighted in the review are the concerns some victims have about giving up personal items such as mobile phones during the course of an investigation. This is completely understandable. In Surrey we offer replacement mobile devices as well as work with victims to set clear parameters on what will be looked at to reduce unnecessary intrusion into their private lives.

“Every victim who comes forward will be listened to, treated with respect and compassion and a thorough investigation will be launched. In April 2019, the PCC’s Office helped us to create a team of 10 victim focused investigating officers who are responsible for supporting adult victims of rape and serious sexual abuse through the investigation and subsequent criminal justice process.

“We will do everything we can to bring a case to court and if the evidence does not allow for a prosecution we will work with other agencies to support victims and take steps to protect the public from dangerous people.”