Your Journey
We take investigations into rape and sexual assault very seriously. They are serious crimes and reporting them is a big decision.
However, no matter who you are, how long ago the assault happened or what took place, our prime concern is to give you the support you need. We'll listen, understand and guide you through the investigation process at a pace you're comfortable with, whilst respecting your wishes.
We have specially trained officers who will explain the process all the way through and help you to make a statement about what has happened. We work alongside specialist organisations who can also offer any medical, physical or emotional support you need during this time.
It’s important to remember that we will listen and believe.
How can the police support you?
Our officers work with all people who have been sexually assaulted, regardless of age or sexual orientation. In order to help you feel as comfortable as possible during the reporting process, we have male and female officers available for you to talk to. We also suggest you state your preferred pronoun so our officers can make you feel as comfortable as possible during this time.
Every rape or serious sexual assault that is reported to us will be handled sensitively and with respect. If you wish, you can be assigned an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor to ensure that you are supported throughout your journey.
An Independent Sexual Violence Advisor provides professional support to victims of recent and historic serious sexual offences to enable them to access the services they need in the aftermath of the abuse they have experienced. The support provided by an ISVA will vary from case to case, depending upon the requirements of the victim and their circumstances.
What happens after I make a report?
You can find out what happens after you’ve made a report to us by downloading this booklet.
Accessibility
Some of our PDF and Word documents are essential to sharing information. Over the coming months, we are reviewing all our web pages and making the necessary changes to ensure that they are accessible for all.
The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they are not essential to the organisation.
However, we recognise that there are several PDF and Word documents that are essential to our organisation and that we have a duty to publish these in a format accessible to all. Alterative formats of all documents on our website are available upon request. You can make a request by emailing our Media and Engagement Department: [email protected]
Please make sure you include in your message the following:
- The name of the document you require in an alternative format
- The format you require the document in
- Your name
