Lancashire dedicates increased focus to tackle sexual violence and support victims
Rape and sexual assault teams central in addressing violence against women
Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, has chaired an Accountability Board meeting to scrutinise policing performance across the county, particularly focusing on the dedicated rape and sexual assault teams.
This meeting provided a comprehensive overview of the force's handling of sexual violence, with Grunshaw highlighting the importance of the teams addressing crimes that primarily affect women and girls.
Stalking and harassment offences have increased by 15%, rape and sexual offences by 4%, and domestic abuse-related crimes by 2% over the past year.
Dedicated teams were first established in 2023, with the Government now mandating that all police forces in England and Wales must have specialist RASSO teams by December 2027.
These teams aid in investigating rape and sexual offences, supporting victims, and pursuing offenders through the criminal justice system.
Currently, demand for these teams in respect of adult RASSO cases has risen for the third consecutive year, now up 43% compared to 2022.
Grunshaw also discussed proactive operations against residential burglary and hate crime, amidst reports that collision incidents in Lancashire resulted in 854 instances of someone killed or seriously injured in the last year.
The additional investment in the Professional Standards Department aims to improve complaint handling and transparency, with ongoing updates provided to complainants every 28 days.
Addressing challenges faced, Grunshaw thanked the Chief Constable and all officers, emphasising the importance of tackling violence against women and girls as a key priority for Lancashire.