Sexual Violence & Abuse Action Plan
02 Apr 2007
Key points
The plan calls for action to:
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improve victims' access to support and health services
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improve the criminal justice response to crimes of sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse
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expand the network of sexual assault referral centres, which provide medical car, forensic examination and counselling
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developing national guidelines for responding to the needs of both adults and youths who have been sexually assaulted
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provide training for all police in how to deal with victims of sexual assault
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implement new vetting and barring schemes for those working with children
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manage sex offenders through multi-agency public protection arrangements, and implementing new strategies for treating offenders
A crucial role to play
Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said the government has a 'crucial role' to play in protecting those at risk from sexual violence and child sex abuse. He said the new action plan 'coordinates everything we are doing across government to ensure that victims get the support they need, and the justice they deserve.'
He added, 'These actions are part of the government's work to rebalance the criminal justice system in favour of the law-abiding majority so that victims and the wider community do not have to live in fear.'
Solicitor General Mike O'Brien agreed, saying the new plan 'gives us a unified approach to tackling sexual violence.'
The plan, he said, 'includes measures strengthening the role of specialist prosecutors, and ensuring all barristers prosecuting serious sexual crime in court have specifically designed, specialist training. We need the whole system to respond to the needs of victims, and deliver convictions to the guilty.'