Summary

The response to rape and serious sexual offences continues to face profound system pressures. Victim attrition rates are high, meaning victims disengage before a criminal justice outcome can be achieved. At the same time, repeat victimisation is an issue, with increasing numbers of victims reporting multiple rapes. The intersection of high attrition and repeated harm highlights a critical gap in current safeguarding responses. We aim to address this gap by developing a research-informed digital dashboard to tackle victim withdrawal and repeat victimisation.

Our project is directly addressing the growing issue of victim disengagement and repeat victimisation in the highest harm VAWG cases. These are critical challenges given that victims of rape and serious sexual offences who disengage early from the criminal justice process often remain at high risk of further harm, but may lack coordinated multi-agency support. We want to rapidly reduce these challenges to protect women and girls more effectively from further violence, increase the capacity of police officers, and improve procedural justice for the most vulnerable women and girls.

We are developing a digital analytical tool that will help to monitor victims who require further support, which will help to prevent victim attrition and repeat victimisation. This digital dashboard will fill a gap in intelligence with a comprehensive and innovative long-term solution.