Report evidence summary
Stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised. 22
Devon & Cornwall Police Complete a five-day review of all open rape investigations in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Criminal Investigation Department.
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Devon & Cornwall Police Prepare a business case considering an uplift in sexual offences liaison officers to improve timely access to specialist victim interviews.
View source
Devon & Cornwall Police Recruit a Detective Chief Superintendent to lead Project Synergy across Devon and Cornwall.
View source
Devon & Cornwall Police Allocate 76 detective constables to general Criminal Investigation Department crime types, increasing investigative capacity.
View source
Devon & Cornwall Police Continue recruiting police officers to reduce detective constable vacancies and staffing shortfalls.
View source
Devon & Cornwall Police Launch Project Synergy to improve the investigative operating model, team resilience and wellbeing, and investigative quality.
View source
Network Rail Raise the Menacuddle Hill/North Street Bridge parapet to at least 1250mm above the adjacent surface level.
View source
Ministry of Justice Increase funding for victims’ services to more than four times its 2009/10 level by 2024/25, including support for sexual violence and domestic abuse services.
View source
Ministry of Justice Establish a statutory duty for Police and Crime Commissioners, Integrated Care Boards and local authorities to collaborate when commissioning specified victim support services.
View source
Ministry of Justice Operate a joint Violence Against Women and Girls fund supporting ‘by and for’ services over 2023/24 to 2024/25, with funding of up to £6 million.
View source
Ministry of Justice Increase the number of Independent Sexual Violence Advisors and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors by 300, reaching over 1,000 by 2024/25.
View source
Cornwall Council Provide professional training and development on identifying and responding to child sexual abuse and harmful sexual behaviour.
View source
Cornwall Council Commission non-contact Independent Sexual Violence Advocates and Domestic Abuse Support Advisors across all areas.
View source
Cornwall Council Invest in Jigsaw as an in-house therapeutic counselling programme for children, young people and families reporting sexual abuse.
View source
Cornwall Council Pilot a sexual-violence recovery toolkit providing additional group and peer support.
View source
Cornwall Council Implement a Child Sexual Abuse strategy and provide referral and assessment guidance resources.
View source
Cornwall Council Add two specialist non-contact Independent Sexual Violence Advocates integrated with frontline social work teams.
View source
Cornwall Council Operate multi-agency quality assurance audits and dip sampling to identify and reinforce improvements in responses to child sexual abuse.
View source
Cornwall Council Invest in Gweres Kernow to provide specialist, clinical and therapeutic support for children displaying harmful sexual behaviours.
View source
Cornwall Council Commission longer-term sexual-violence recovery therapy and group support through Safer Futures.
View source
Cornwall Council Develop a child-on-child toolkit for education settings to identify and respond to harmful sexual behaviour and abuse.
View source
Cornwall Council Pilot cross-area support models for complex trauma following sexual violence.
View source
× Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Delays of over a month in obtaining best evidence through video interview or otherwise
Wider context from the report “I was informed by ████████ that as of January this year, there were 600 open cases of rape or serious sexual assault. I was told additionally that there are over 20 vacancies for DCs to progress these complaints. One consequence was that it was taking over a month to achieve best evidence through video interview or otherwise .
████████ agreed that the lack of available DCs meant that both the quality and amount of work that could be done were affected.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of formalised, guaranteed funding for long-term therapy and recovery provision
Wider context from the report “There are some steps being taken towards the provision of a more joined-up approach through a pენinsula sexual violence pathfinder [funded by NHSE] which brings together commissioners and services across Devon, Cornwall, Plymouth and Torbay to pilot new approaches to longer- term recovery support for those impacted by sexual violence. Locally, a joined- up service called Safer Futures [a partnership between First Light and Barnardos] has been commissioned by Safer Cornwall which includes Cornwall Council, the Integrated Care Board, NHSE and others.
I am concerned that the provision of long-term therapy and recovery for the survivors of rape and sexual violence, which should be extended to include domestic abuse and child sexual abuse, needs to be formalised and provided with a guaranteed level of funding . You may wish to consider if this should be on a statutory basis. No one should have to wait half a year for help after being assaulted.
” Is this part of a recurring concern? No recurring-concern membership is currently published.
Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure to extend long-term therapy and recovery provision to domestic abuse and child sexual abuse
Wider context from the report “There are some steps being taken towards the provision of a more joined-up approach through a pენinsula sexual violence pathfinder [funded by NHSE] which brings together commissioners and services across Devon, Cornwall, Plymouth and Torbay to pilot new approaches to longer- term recovery support for those impacted by sexual violence. Locally, a joined- up service called Safer Futures [a partnership between First Light and Barnardos] has been commissioned by Safer Cornwall which includes Cornwall Council, the Integrated Care Board, NHSE and others.
I am concerned that the provision of long-term therapy and recovery for the survivors of rape and sexual violence, which should be extended to include domestic abuse and child sexual abuse , needs to be formalised and provided with a guaranteed level of funding. You may wish to consider if this should be on a statutory basis. No one should have to wait half a year for help after being assaulted.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of available DC capacity to progress rape and serious sexual assault complaints
Wider context from the report “I was informed by ████████ that as of January this year, there were 600 open cases of rape or serious sexual assault. I was told additionally that there are over 20 vacancies for DCs to progress these complaints . One consequence was that it was taking over a month to achieve best evidence through video interview or otherwise.
████████ agreed that the lack of available DCs meant that both the quality and amount of work that could be done were affected .
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure of the railway bridge parapet to meet statutory obligations
Wider context from the report “Tamsin fell approximately 21.5’ from Menacuddle Hill/North Street railway bridge in St Austell. During the course of the investigation, enquiries were made relating to the parapet at the bridge. Please find attached:
- Report of ████████ at Strange, Strange & Gardner, Consultant Engineers, dated 30/8/18. You will note his view that the parapet does not meet the obligations of the Railway Clause Consolidation Act 1845 ;
- Email from ████████ dated 14/12/18;
- Email from ████████ dated 24/5/19;
- Email from ████████, Cormac, dated 15/7/19.
” Is this part of a recurring concern? No recurring-concern membership is currently published.
Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Delays in long-term therapy and recovery support after sexual violence
Wider context from the report “There are some steps being taken towards the provision of a more joined-up approach through a pენinsula sexual violence pathfinder [funded by NHSE] which brings together commissioners and services across Devon, Cornwall, Plymouth and Torbay to pilot new approaches to longer- term recovery support for those impacted by sexual violence. Locally, a joined- up service called Safer Futures [a partnership between First Light and Barnardos] has been commissioned by Safer Cornwall which includes Cornwall Council, the Integrated Care Board, NHSE and others.
I am concerned that the provision of long-term therapy and recovery for the survivors of rape and sexual violence , which should be extended to include domestic abuse and child sexual abuse, needs to be formalised and provided with a guaranteed level of funding. You may wish to consider if this should be on a statutory basis. No one should have to wait half a year for help after being assaulted .
” Is this part of a recurring concern? No recurring-concern membership is currently published.
Open source report
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Complete a five-day review of all open rape investigations in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Criminal Investigation Department.
Verbatim wording from the response “Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly (‘CIOS’) Criminal Investigation Department (‘CID’) senior managers conducted a 5-day review in January 2023 of all open rape investigations being investigated by CIOS CID. Reviews of this size are not regularly conducted due to the resources they require, however it was a very useful exercise to understand the demands on our teams, areas we could seek improvement, to finalise any that needed an Inspector review as per policy and to reassure ourselves that the volume of crime being investigated was accurate. We identified 560 rape investigations within CIOS, with 511 rapes under investigation by CIOS CID. Other rapes came under the Public Protection Unit. This is slightly under the 600 quoted but still significant numbers. This number does not include serious sexual assault.” Source location Response from Dorset Police
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Prepare a business case considering an uplift in sexual offences liaison officers to improve timely access to specialist victim interviews.
Verbatim wording from the response “Cornwall currently has 9 sexual offences liaison officers (SOLO) who perform the majority of the specialist video interview role (ABE). DC’s can also complete ABE interviews however they generally rely upon the SOLO for this support. It would be a fair assumption that if there were no DC vacancies then we may be able to use the additional capacity to assist with the ABE backlog. There are no SOLO vacancies, however we are currently preparing a business case to consider an uplift of SOLOs as we are aware of the good practice findings of the national Op Soteria Bluestone project which evidences the value of obtaining early victim accounts by correctly trained staff. The delay in obtaining an ABE account can be due to a number of factors, some of which are outside Police control.” Source location Response from Dorset Police
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Recruit a Detective Chief Superintendent to lead Project Synergy across Devon and Cornwall.
Verbatim wording from the response “The Chief Constable has also just agreed to launch Project Synergy which is an initiative to improve our investigative operating model, increase the resilience and wellbeing of our investigative teams and to improve investigative quality. We are currently in the process of recruiting a Detective Chief Superintendent to lead on this project across Devon and Cornwall. Its considerations include formation of investigative hubs whereby investigators will be brought together to increase resilience, enable more specialist officers to be established (including rape investigators) and to introduce investigation support officers to boost the available resource. We are hopeful that this new initiative will increase our capability to deal with the increasing investigative demand.” Source location Response from Dorset Police
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Allocate 76 detective constables to general Criminal Investigation Department crime types, increasing investigative capacity.
Verbatim wording from the response “This figure has improved slightly since CIOS CID have been allocated 76 Detective Constables (‘DC’) to deal with general CID crime types. Rape and other serious sexual offences are two types of the many other serious and complex crimes that we deal with. It has been suggested that RASSO offences account for around 35% to 40% of a Detectives workload. Clearly having vacancies impacts on the average amount of investigations that each investigator will have. Investigators workloads are at levels that have not be seen before and that is a combination of the rising demand from our communities and the vacancies. This high demand also reflects that our communities feel confident to report this type of crime. The vacancy and reducing, however and that is mainly by recruiting Police Officers at the early stages of their careers.” Source location Response from Dorset Police
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Continue recruiting police officers to reduce detective constable vacancies and staffing shortfalls.
Verbatim wording from the response “This figure has improved slightly since CIOS CID have been allocated 76 Detective Constables (‘DC’) to deal with general CID crime types. Rape and other serious sexual offences are two types of the many other serious and complex crimes that we deal with. It has been suggested that RASSO offences account for around 35% to 40% of a Detectives workload. Clearly having vacancies impacts on the average amount of investigations that each investigator will have. Investigators workloads are at levels that have not be seen before and that is a combination of the rising demand from our communities and the vacancies. This high demand also reflects that our communities feel confident to report this type of crime. The vacancy and reducing, however and that is mainly by recruiting Police Officers at the early stages of their careers.” Source location Response from Dorset Police
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Launch Project Synergy to improve the investigative operating model, team resilience and wellbeing, and investigative quality.
Verbatim wording from the response “The Chief Constable has also just agreed to launch Project Synergy which is an initiative to improve our investigative operating model, increase the resilience and wellbeing of our investigative teams and to improve investigative quality. We are currently in the process of recruiting a Detective Chief Superintendent to lead on this project across Devon and Cornwall. Its considerations include formation of investigative hubs whereby investigators will be brought together to increase resilience, enable more specialist officers to be established (including rape investigators) and to introduce investigation support officers to boost the available resource. We are hopeful that this new initiative will increase our capability to deal with the increasing investigative demand.” Source location Response from Dorset Police
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Raise the Menacuddle Hill/North Street Bridge parapet to at least 1250mm above the adjacent surface level.
Verbatim wording from the response “In response to your concern that the height of the parapet at Menacuddle/North Street Bridge was not compliant with legal requirements, Network Rail has extensively reviewed the possible measures that may be taken to rectify this and is committed to raising the height of the parapet to reduce the potential for further incidents.” Source location Response from Network Rail
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Increase funding for victims’ services to more than four times its 2009/10 level by 2024/25, including support for sexual violence and domestic abuse services.
Verbatim wording from the response “Your report noted the improvement and increases in funding for Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across Devon & Cornwall. Indeed, to better support victims and meet demand for services we are more than quadrupling funding for victims’ services by 2024/25, up from £4.1 million in 2009/10. This includes up to £6.6 million for services supporting victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse, and funding to increase the number of Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) by 300, to over 1,000 by 2024/25. In addition, in September 2022, the Ministry of Justice and Home Office announced a joint fund for Violence Against Woman and Girls (VAWG) ‘by and for’ services. This will run over two years (2023/24 to 2024/25) and total up to £6 million.” Source location Response from Ministry of Justice
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Establish a statutory duty for Police and Crime Commissioners, Integrated Care Boards and local authorities to collaborate when commissioning specified victim support services.
Verbatim wording from the response “As you note, the Victims and Prisoners Bill is currently going through Parliament. To respond to your recommendation on introducing statutory funding, the Bill is not the right vehicle to set out how future funding may be directed. This is determined by HM Treasury as part of the Spending Review who decide departmental expenditure limits and set out a plan for how public money will be spent over a multi-year period, in line with government priorities.” Source location Response from Ministry of Justice
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Operate a joint Violence Against Women and Girls fund supporting ‘by and for’ services over 2023/24 to 2024/25, with funding of up to £6 million.
Verbatim wording from the response “Your report noted the improvement and increases in funding for Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across Devon & Cornwall. Indeed, to better support victims and meet demand for services we are more than quadrupling funding for victims’ services by 2024/25, up from £4.1 million in 2009/10. This includes up to £6.6 million for services supporting victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse, and funding to increase the number of Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) by 300, to over 1,000 by 2024/25. In addition, in September 2022, the Ministry of Justice and Home Office announced a joint fund for Violence Against Woman and Girls (VAWG) ‘by and for’ services. This will run over two years (2023/24 to 2024/25) and total up to £6 million.” Source location Response from Ministry of Justice
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Increase the number of Independent Sexual Violence Advisors and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors by 300, reaching over 1,000 by 2024/25.
Verbatim wording from the response “Your report noted the improvement and increases in funding for Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across Devon & Cornwall. Indeed, to better support victims and meet demand for services we are more than quadrupling funding for victims’ services by 2024/25, up from £4.1 million in 2009/10. This includes up to £6.6 million for services supporting victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse, and funding to increase the number of Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) by 300, to over 1,000 by 2024/25. In addition, in September 2022, the Ministry of Justice and Home Office announced a joint fund for Violence Against Woman and Girls (VAWG) ‘by and for’ services. This will run over two years (2023/24 to 2024/25) and total up to £6 million.” Source location Response from Ministry of Justice
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Provide professional training and development on identifying and responding to child sexual abuse and harmful sexual behaviour.
Verbatim wording from the response “Staff are skilled and well trained in understanding signs of symptoms of Child Sexual Abuse. Both Children and Family Services and OSCP training offers a robust training offer in respect of Child Sexual Abuse and harmful sexual behaviour open to all professionals that work with children and the Brook Traffic Light system is widely used to identify harmful sexual behaviour and those at risk of child sexual abuse. Workforce development around identifying and responding to sexual abuse has improved. Partners can access a range of training and development opportunities to improve knowledge and understanding. These include and training such as ‘An introduction to sexual abuse’, ‘child on child sexual abuse’ and ‘Stopping me seeing the people I love’.” Source location Response from Cornwall Council
Open published response
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Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Commission non-contact Independent Sexual Violence Advocates and Domestic Abuse Support Advisors across all areas.
Verbatim wording from the response “A strong working partnership with Safer Futures has led to commissioning of Non-Contact ISVA’s and Domestic Abuse Support Advisors through First Light, present now in all areas, effectively ensuring that a full 360-degree service is offered to families allowing a safe working relationship for support through disclosures and reports of abuse. This is essential given the relationship between victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence. In 2023 Children and Family Services have also made a further investment in two specialist non-contact Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs), integrated with front line social work teams, to further widen the range of support options for children who have experienced sexual abuse.” Source location Response from Cornwall Council
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Invest in Jigsaw as an in-house therapeutic counselling programme for children, young people and families reporting sexual abuse.
Verbatim wording from the response “The Council has made a significant investment in Jigsaw, a therapeutic programme for children, young people and families who have reported sexual abuse. Jigsaw is the primary in house therapeutic counselling service offering a psychology-based person-centred counselling to children and their carers, however support reflects the immediate needs of children and their carers and recognises and supports pre-existing therapeutic relationships. Support may therefore be sourced from either Jigsaw or a wide range of other therapeutic providers in Cornwall including Clear Therapy, targeted youth work from our locality Early Help teams, Dreadnought, CAMHS, and Independent Sexual Violence Advocates.” Source location Response from Cornwall Council
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Pilot a sexual-violence recovery toolkit providing additional group and peer support.
Verbatim wording from the response “There remains unmet need, as there does nationally. In part to address this, efforts to innovate and find more efficient and effective means of meeting demand for support continue to be actively explored. Across Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, commissioners and services are working together, pooling funds to pilot new approaches in providing support to those experiencing complex trauma following sexual violence, in an effort to bridge the gap between specialist mental health services (Community Mental Health Teams and Integrated Psychological Therapies) and sexual violence recovery services. This pilot is in its first year. In Cornwall, we are also piloting a sexual violence recovery toolkit to try and meet some of the increased demand by providing increased group and peer support which do not require qualified therapists, compared with traditional 1-1 therapy.” Source location Response from Cornwall Council
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Implement a Child Sexual Abuse strategy and provide referral and assessment guidance resources.
Verbatim wording from the response “The Council’s children’s services, and Cornwall’s Our Safeguarding Children Partnership, have made improving the identification and response to Child Sexual Abuse a priority focus over the last 5 years, building on the findings and learning from a Joint Targeted Area Inspection of sexual abuse in the family in Cornwall in October 2018. An Our Safeguarding Children Partnership Child Sexual Abuse strategy, developed by a dedicated OSCP sub-group, underpins a thorough understanding of the risks and support needs for both victims of sexual abuse and children who show harmful sexual behaviour so that multi-agency stakeholders are able make referrals that are prompt and proportionate. Resources are available from the OSCP to support this including a Child Sexual Abuse Referral and Assessment ‘What happens guide’.” Source location Response from Cornwall Council
Open published response
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Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Add two specialist non-contact Independent Sexual Violence Advocates integrated with frontline social work teams.
Verbatim wording from the response “A strong working partnership with Safer Futures has led to commissioning of Non-Contact ISVA’s and Domestic Abuse Support Advisors through First Light, present now in all areas, effectively ensuring that a full 360-degree service is offered to families allowing a safe working relationship for support through disclosures and reports of abuse. This is essential given the relationship between victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence. In 2023 Children and Family Services have also made a further investment in two specialist non-contact Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs), integrated with front line social work teams, to further widen the range of support options for children who have experienced sexual abuse.” Source location Response from Cornwall Council
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Operate multi-agency quality assurance audits and dip sampling to identify and reinforce improvements in responses to child sexual abuse.
Verbatim wording from the response “There is ongoing scrutiny and quality assurance of the quality and effectiveness of multi-agency partnership working for children who have experienced sexual abuse through Cornwall’s innovative multi-agency Child Sexual Abuse dip sampling process. The dip sampling framework has found that up to 75% of reported child sexual assaults in Cornwall are child on child. Our specialist service for harmful sexual behaviour Gweres Kernow supports professionals on how to manage reports in a child first, trauma informed way as we are aware that children who present with behaviours have often experienced their own adverse experiences as a child. This quality assurance framework has helped identify and reinforce best and better practice models, identify emerging area of concern and inform multi-agency stakeholder actions and service developments.” Source location Response from Cornwall Council
Open published response
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Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Invest in Gweres Kernow to provide specialist, clinical and therapeutic support for children displaying harmful sexual behaviours.
Verbatim wording from the response “Strategy meetings are also routinely held in respect of children where there are identified concerns about the risk of harmful sexual behaviour to consider their individual needs, avoid criminalisation of children and prevent further sexual harm/abuse. The Council has made a significant investment in Gweres Kernow, a specialist service to support children and young people who display concerning or harmful sexual behaviours. The approach is bespoke and looks to address the underlying issues relating to behaviours of concern promoting safety and wellbeing. This work is supported by a Clinical Psychologist. Gweres Kernow are integral to ongoing advice, guidance, and input into case referrals for harmful sexual behaviour. They provide a bespoke service and consultation on all matters relating to” Source location Response from Cornwall Council
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Commission longer-term sexual-violence recovery therapy and group support through Safer Futures.
Verbatim wording from the response “In addition, Commissioners across Cornwall Council, NHSE and the Integrated Care Board (ICB) have pooled the limited resources available for longer term recovery services for those impacted by sexual violence and have commissioned the local Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence service, Safer Futures, to provide therapy and group support for adults and children who have been impacted by sexual assault and violence.” Source location Response from Cornwall Council
Open published response
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Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Develop a child-on-child toolkit for education settings to identify and respond to harmful sexual behaviour and abuse.
Verbatim wording from the response “Partnership strategies address related issues such as violence to women and girls which incorporate a preventive approach. Cornwall’s OSCP remains integral to promoting understanding, appropriate responses and learning in regard to Child Sexual Abuse. There is a strong partnership commitment to continuous improvement, with work currently underway, for example, on a Child-on-Child toolkit for use in education settings to identify and respond at the earliest possible stage to emerging indications of harmful sexual behaviour and Child Sexual Abuse in schools.” Source location Response from Cornwall Council
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Pilot cross-area support models for complex trauma following sexual violence.
Verbatim wording from the response “There remains unmet need, as there does nationally. In part to address this, efforts to innovate and find more efficient and effective means of meeting demand for support continue to be actively explored. Across Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, commissioners and services are working together, pooling funds to pilot new approaches in providing support to those experiencing complex trauma following sexual violence, in an effort to bridge the gap between specialist mental health services (Community Mental Health Teams and Integrated Psychological Therapies) and sexual violence recovery services. This pilot is in its first year. In Cornwall, we are also piloting a sexual violence recovery toolkit to try and meet some of the increased demand by providing increased group and peer support which do not require qualified therapists, compared with traditional 1-1 therapy.” Source location Response from Cornwall Council
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Some delays in obtaining victim video-interview accounts arise from factors outside police control.
Verbatim wording from the response “Cornwall currently has 9 sexual offences liaison officers (SOLO) who perform the majority of the specialist video interview role (ABE). DC’s can also complete ABE interviews however they generally rely upon the SOLO for this support. It would be a fair assumption that if there were no DC vacancies then we may be able to use the additional capacity to assist with the ABE backlog. There are no SOLO vacancies, however we are currently preparing a business case to consider an uplift of SOLOs as we are aware of the good practice findings of the national Op Soteria Bluestone project which evidences the value of obtaining early victim accounts by correctly trained staff. The delay in obtaining an ABE account can be due to a number of factors, some of which are outside Police control.” Source location Response from Dorset Police
Open published response
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Source evidence
How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Staffing levels were not a factor in the death, despite affecting investigators’ workloads and ability to process work.
Verbatim wording from the response “I agree that staff numbers are a factor on our ability to process the work, but our staff provide the best service they can with many competing demands, and it was not a factor in this tragic death. Clearly, I would want us to be fully staffed as that would reduce average workloads and as explained there is ongoing recruitment but that will take time to see the improvement. We have many examples of good work within the teams, and we continue to prosecute RASSO offences in the courts with our CPS colleagues.” Source location Response from Dorset Police
Open published response
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Source evidence
How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation The Chief Constable is responsible for responding to concerns about open rape and serious assault cases and Detective Constable vacancies.
Verbatim wording from the response “Lastly, you raise concerns about the serious matter of the number of open rape and serious assault causes and vacancies at Detective Constable level. As you have sent a separate PFD to the Chief Constable, I trust they will respond fully on the matter.” Source location Response from Ministry of Justice
Open published response
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Source evidence
How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation HM Treasury determines departmental expenditure limits and future statutory victim-support funding, so the Victims and Prisoners Bill is not the appropriate vehicle.
Verbatim wording from the response “As you note, the Victims and Prisoners Bill is currently going through Parliament. To respond to your recommendation on introducing statutory funding, the Bill is not the right vehicle to set out how future funding may be directed. This is determined by HM Treasury as part of the Spending Review who decide departmental expenditure limits and set out a plan for how public money will be spent over a multi-year period, in line with government priorities.” Source location Response from Ministry of Justice
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation The Police and Crime Commissioner commissions Independent Sexual Violence Advocate services for people involved in the criminal justice system.
Verbatim wording from the response “The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) commissions the Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA) Service for those going through the criminal justice system and has involved Cornwall Council in developing the specification and assessing the bids for the current tender for this service.” Source location Response from Cornwall Council
Open published response
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Source evidence
How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Recovery services face unmet demand because short-term funding, therapist shortages and demand exceeding supply constrain available support.
Verbatim wording from the response “Outside of this, recovery services such as counselling, group work, 1-1 support and therapeutic support rely on a mixture of national and local short term grant funding. Demand for all these services has always outstripped supply and has increased significantly over the last 3 years. Alongside increased demand the Domestic Abuse Services Cornwall Council commission are struggling to recruit enough qualified therapists, this is recognised as a national concern. Commissioners have managed to support some of this with Covid grant funding but there remain waiting lists for most services.” Source location Response from Cornwall Council
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PFD Monitor interpretation Nationally required sexual violence recovery services are commissioned by NHS England under the Public Health Functions agreement.
Verbatim wording from the response “It is our view that the findings of HM Coroner, in terms of the complexity of funding for sexual violence recovery services are correct. Currently, the only sexual violence recovery service that has a national requirement to be commissioned and delivered is the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) which is commissioned by NHS England (NHSE), under the Public Health Functions agreement.” Source location Response from Cornwall Council
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