PCC welcomes launch of Operation Soteria across UK

Wiltshire Police’s commitment to tackle rape and serious sexual offences has been strengthened today as part of a national, Government-led, scheme

Launched in 2021 as part of the government’s Rape Review, Operation Soteria is a Home Office-funded research and change programme which has developed a new national operating model for the investigation and prosecution of rape and serious sexual assault. 

All police forces in England and Wales will now implement this new model.

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson welcomed the national launch of Operation Soteria today.

He said: “Victims of rape and serious sexual assault deserve to be believed, treated with respect and be assured quality, thorough and suspect-focused investigations will be delivered by the police to enable justice to be served.

“Soteria ensures every police force is focused - not only to improve the service victims receive - but to ensure everyone in the criminal justice system is working to improve charge rates and convictions, which have been appallingly low. These principles are perfectly aligned with the priorities within my police and crime plan.

“In Wiltshire, the Force has been making radical, and sustainable, improvements in the way it investigates these crimes – with an amplified victim-centred approach and working closely with criminal justice partners. My office has also doubled its funding for rape and sexual assault victims this year, with £400,000 invested in support services alone.

“Both the Chief Constable and I are determined Wiltshire Police consistently delivers the service its residents want – and deserve – and we are relentless in the pursuit of that.”

The initial stages of this collaborative project bought together 19 police forces (including Wiltshire Police) and academics to understand and tackle the challenges seen in rape and serious sexual offences investigations.  Following a supported self-assessment, we have been helped to develop a plan which aims to drive systematic and sustainable improvements to rape investigations.

The national model ensures suspect focused investigations, supporting of victims throughout the process as well as delivering more specialist training for officers. Crucial closer working with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will also continue to take place.

Following today’s government announcement, Wiltshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Debs Smith said: “Being one of the 19 forces to take part in the initial conception stages of Operation Soteria enabled us to reflect on how we were carrying out investigations around serious sexual assaults and what improvements were still needed at Wiltshire Police.

“Here in Wiltshire, we have for some time now - before our involvement with Soteria - been making significant inroads to improve the way we investigate rape and serious sexual assaults in addition to improving how we care for, support, and help the victims in each and every case. 

“This, along with continuing the work we do with our colleagues at the CPS to address low charge and conviction rates, will ultimately help us bring more offenders to justice.

“Operation Soteria, through the additional Government support and the improved training for our staff, will help us to continue the crucial work we are doing in policing to improve the experiences of victims as well as tightening our grip on suspects and offenders.”

Notes to editors

What is Soteria?

• Operation Soteria, launched in 2021, is an ambitious joint policing and CPS programme to develop new national operating models for the investigation and prosecution of rape.
• The policing aspects of the programme are funded by the Home Office and is led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council., bringing together police forces with academics to use evidence and new insight to enable forces to transform their response to rape and serious sexual offences. The programme has developed a new National Operating Model for the investigation of rape and serious sexual offences, which all police forces in England and Wales have committed to implementing.
• The first phase of this work involved a series of academic-led deep dives in five ‘pathfinder’ forces. Once a deep dive is complete, the force is supported to reflect on the findings and make improvements to their approach to RASSO.
• From September 2022, 14 further ‘expansion’ police forces took forward a self-assessment model developed in close collaboration with the Operation Soteria Bluestone academics.  Wiltshire Police were one of the 14. Following a supported self-assessment, these forces have been supported to develop an improvement plan which aims to drive systematic and sustainable improvements to rape investigations.

How will forces implement these changes?

• The Home Office are funding the establishment of a joint Home Office and NPCC Unit to oversee and monitor implementation of the National Operating Model nationally. The Joint Unit will be supported by the College of Policing and the academics who developed the National Operating Model.
• The Joint Unit will support police forces as they implement the National Operating Model within their local areas and contexts. 

Wiltshire Police Stats 

Charges for rape and serious sexual assaults: 2021 - 41; 2022 - 35; 2023 - 93. 

Link to national release: Overhaul of criminal justice system delivers significant improvement for rape victims - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)