First reported 6 Oct 2020•Latest report 16 May 2023
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures in the police handling of reported sexual assault allegations, including initial recording or assessment, investigation and progression, decisions to discontinue or not pursue, communication of those decisions and reasons, and related victim-facing safeguards where these are part of the same allegation-handling process.
Not included
Excludes generic police communication or investigation deficiencies where no reported sexual assault allegation is involved.
Excludes domestic-abuse, child-sexual-assault or specialist sexual-offences processes when the assertion is confined to a separately named pathway that provides the more specific supported boundary.
Excludes failures in victim support, crime recording or prosecution after the reported sexual assault process has otherwise operated reliably, unless the failure is part of handling the allegation itself.
Excludes the underlying allegation, harm or outcome where no continuing deficiency in the police allegation-handling process is identified.
Reports
4
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
6
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2020–2023
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
13
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Devon & Cornwall Police1
Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership1
Greater Manchester Police1
Home Office1
Metropolitan Police Service1
Ministry of Justice1
Network Rail1
Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall1
South Yorkshire Police1
Police force4
Ministerial department2
Health-system partnership1
Police and crime commissioner1
Rail infrastructure manager1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns raised1
Lack of available DC capacity to progress rape and serious sexual assault complaints
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Allocate 76 detective constables to general Criminal Investigation Department crime types, increasing investigative capacity.
Stated by Devon & Cornwall PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 May 2023.
Action
Continue recruiting police officers to reduce detective constable vacancies and staffing shortfalls.
Stated by Devon & Cornwall PoliceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 19 May 2023.
Action
Launch Project Synergy to improve the investigative operating model, team resilience and wellbeing, and investigative quality.
Stated by Devon & Cornwall PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 19 May 2023.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Staffing levels were not a factor in the death, despite affecting investigators’ workloads and ability to process work.
Stated by Devon & Cornwall PoliceDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
The Chief Constable is responsible for responding to concerns about open rape and serious assault cases and Detective Constable vacancies.
Stated by Ministry of JusticeRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Manchester South
Concerns raised2
Failure to record a reported sexual allegation as a crime
Failure to investigate a reported sexual allegation
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Action
Implement training methods for officers on National Crime Recording Standards.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 May 2021.
Action
Introduce a central Crime Recording and Resolution Unit to support accurate recording of relevant incidents.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 May 2021.
Action
Provide officers with feedback on crime-recording understanding and knowledge.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 May 2021.
Action
Review district vulnerability-email management and implement arrangements to identify and record crime, assess victim risk, mitigate it, and record actions.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 May 2021.
Action
Introduce streamlined single inboxes for consistent routing of enquiries and concerns.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 May 2021.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
The remaining concerns fall under Greater Manchester Police’s remit, so Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership will leave them for police response.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care BoardRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
A Force Crime Registrar review concluded that no recordable crime had been committed.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
East London
Concerns raised1
Delays in investigation and progression of sexual assault cases
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Operate the North East Basic Command Unit Response Support Team as a training and investigative advice resource for response officers.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 27 January 2021.
Action
Introduce the vulnerability tool into monthly Offender Management Meetings to identify and prioritise vulnerable-victim cases requiring management intervention.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 27 January 2021.
Action
Carry out a cross-system review of the criminal justice response to rape and report a package of improvement actions.
Stated by Home OfficeStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 27 January 2021.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
The timeliness of the prosecution decision and court listing lay with the Crown Prosecution Service and Her Majesty’s Courts Service.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
The Metropolitan Police Service will respond separately on specific investigation matters because it is operationally independent.
Stated by Home OfficeRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
South Yorkshire (Western)
Concerns raised2
Deficiencies in investigation of sexual assault allegations
Failure to personally and sensitively explain decisions not to pursue allegations
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Reinforce investigation-review requirements with crime managers and supervisors through cascading guidance and regular compliance scrutiny.
Stated by South Yorkshire PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 7 January 2021.
Action
Update and distribute the CID40 sexual-offences aide-memoire and amend the Force intranet guidance.
Stated by South Yorkshire PoliceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 7 January 2021.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
The officer was suitably qualified and experienced to investigate sexual offences, having transferred with PIP2 accreditation and completed relevant specialist training.
Stated by South Yorkshire PoliceDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
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Includes failures in the police handling of reported sexual assault allegations, including initial recording or assessment, investigation and progression, decisions to discontinue or not pursue, communication of those decisions and reasons, and related victim-facing safeguards where these are part of the same allegation-handling process.
