We've helped to develop new guidance for police forces to improve investigations of rape and sexual offences.
The new Rape Victim Impact Assessment (RVIA) is based on research by Professor Clare McGlynn, in Durham Law School, and colleagues at the University of Glasgow.
Victims' rights
The RVIA - published as part of the UK Government's Home Office Rape Review - is designed to put victims, their rights and interests at the heart of the criminal justice system.
It aims to improve services to victims by providing a clear process to support police officers and staff to systematically review how policies and procedures could impact victims.
It follows similar processes such as Equality Impact Assessments and Environmental Impact Assessments which are now routine in many sectors.
The RVIA is part of the new National Operating Model (NOM) for the investigation of rape and serious sexual offences for police forces in England and Wales.
Professor McGlynn and her Glasgow colleagues will continue to work with the police to see how the tool is used and how it can be improved.
Police decision-making
While it was developed specifically in relation to police investigations of rape, the guidance has the potential to be applied across all areas of criminal justice.
It provides greater confidence for individual police officers in knowing that all policies have been designed with the rights and interests of victims of sexual offences in mind, including those from minoritised and marginalised groups.
The RVIA also gives victims and the public the opportunity to understand police decision-making, with police forces being advised to publish and share their assessments with the local community for transparency and accountability.
