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NEWS: New Legal Advisors service for rape victims

Stock image of two women in front of a laptop, one giving the other advice

Yesterday, the government announced that rape victims will soon have access to dedicated legal advice throughout the criminal justice process. The Deputy Prime Minister announced a new national Independent Legal Advisor (ILA) service, while expanding the principles of Operation Soteria into the courtroom.

“The Survivors Trust welcomes the announcement of a new Independent Legal Advisor (ILA) service for victims of rape, which is something we have long campaigned for. The recognition that victims need the benefit and protection of legal support whilst they are involved in the criminal justice system is an important step forward in protecting their rights.”, says Fay Maxted, CEO.

“Too often victims have told us that they feel their needs are secondary in a court case that involves them in the most intimate and traumatic way whilst the interests of the defendant appear to have been prioritised. We hope the ILA service, together with the introduction of the Operation Soteria focus on suspects not victims in the courtroom, will address this perceived imbalance and ensure a fairer and more just approach that victims have a right to expect.”

What is Operation Soteria?

Operation Soteria was developed in response to national concern around the investigation of rape and serious sexual assault offences (RASSO) and the increasing epidemic that is violence against women and girls.

Launched in June 2021, as Operation Soteria Bluestone within Avon and Somerset Police, it’s aim was to increase the number of adult rape and serious sexual assault cases reaching charge, and, in addition, deliver sustained improvement in the criminal justice whole system response.

The programme combines practitioner knowledge with that of academic experts, along with research insight and transformational change support to forces. This has led to the development of the first National Operating Model (NOM) for the investigation of rape and serious sexual offences.

Information taken from NPCC website, for further information on Operation Soteria see here.

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