Resources
Sexual Assault Risk Assessment Conference – SARAC
SARAC is a multi-agency meeting to consider all the key risks to the survivor, hear current information held by attending partners and agree a safety plan aimed at managing harm and threats. All agencies are accountable for developing the plan and ensuring actions are completed.
SARAC is managed by Cambridgeshire Constabulary and more information including referral criteria and pathways can be found at Cambridgeshire County Council DASV Partnership – Sexual Assault Risk Assessment Conference (SARAC) (cambsdasv.org.uk)
Support Pathways – Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
● Cambridge and Peterborough Rape Crisis Partnership provide support to people who have experienced sexual violence and abuse across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. They offer support around current and historical abuse and their services include counselling, email support and telephone helplines. They also offer support to families of survivors and their website has useful self-help guides. Self-referrals are welcome as well as referrals by professionals. www.caprcp.org.uk
● The Elms Sexual Assault Referral Centre is based in Huntingdon and supports people from across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The Elms can provide telephone support and referrals to specialist services, in-person crisis support and healthcare and forensic medical examinations – including holistic examinations and care for non-recent cases. The Elms also offer access to specialist counselling and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVA) support. The Elms – SARC (theelmssarc.org)
Cambridgeshire Victims Services, also known as the Victim and Witness Hub, is a free confidential service providing emotional and practical support to victims or witnesses to a crime in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, to help them cope and recover from the impact of crime. It offers support to victims from the time of the offence, through any subsequent police investigation or court proceedings and beyond, according to the needs of the individual. The Victim and Witness Hub supports all victims of crime including those who don’t want to report their crime to the police and accepts self-referrals. Victim Services | Victim and Witness Hub (cambsvictimservices.co.uk)
Cambridgeshire Police offer full support to anyone who wants to report sexual violence or abuse. More information can be found at How to report rape, sexual assault or other sexual offences | Cambridgeshire Constabulary (cambs.police.uk)
CHOICES offers a confidential trauma-informed counselling service throughout Cambridgeshire and Peterborough for women and men who have experienced sexual abuse in childhood. Home – Choices Counselling
National Support Services
24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Helpline – This service is provided by Rape Crisis England & Wales and offers a helpline as well as online chat. The Helpline number is 0808 500 2222, the website is 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line (247sexualabusesupport.org.uk)
Survivors UK support male and non-binary survivors of sexual violence, providing counselling and practical help. They also offer support for friends and family of survivors and professionals. SurvivorsUK | We challenge the silence to support sexually abused men
Galop support LGBTQ+ people who have experienced abuse of any kind, including sexual violence and domestic abuse Galop – the LGBT+ anti-abuse charity
Hourglass offer support around abuse of older people – including support to friends and family and professionals www.wearehourglass.org
Support for Survivors
Survivors of sexual assault may not tell anyone for a long time,
They may never tell anyone what happened to them.
If a survivor discloses to you,
- • The most important thing is to reassure them that you believe them.
- • Be aware that speaking about the incident(s) can cause significant trauma and may lead to thoughts and feelings that they are reliving what happened to them.
- • Never push someone to tell you more details if they are uncomfortable doing so.
- • Be aware that not everyone will want to report to the police but, if you are in a role that requires you to report what they have told you, explain to them what you are going to do and why.
- • If safeguarding does not apply, ask them what they would like you to do – it may be to help them find some support, to go with them to report to police, or they might not know what they want to do next – give them time.
Survivors of sexual violence and assault need specialist support.
The impact of events can be long-lasting and often cause significant trauma.
Some survivors may require support with their mental health. Some mental health diagnoses around trauma use the word ‘disorder’ – ie Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – but it’s important to recognise that trauma is a normal human reaction to a distressing event.
Some survivors seek support around their specific circumstances – this could be from organisations that support survivors of childhood abuse, male survivors or survivors who are LGBTQIA+
Safeguarding Procedures can be found at
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Safeguarding Partnership Board (safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk)
Specialist Support
Select each of the following headings to find out what specialist support is available for survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs) provide specialist support to victims and survivors of sexual violence. This can be emotional support as well as practical support with things like liaising with police or court. ISVA support is available whether the person chooses to report to the police or not.
ChISVAS are specialist ISVAs who work with children who have experienced sexual violence or abuse. They can help to liaise and talk to (non-abusing) family members and also with social care and schools.
A Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) provides a safe space and dedicated care for anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused. They offer a range of services, including crisis care, medical and forensic examinations, emergency contraception and testing for sexually transmitted infections.
Survivors can get support from a SARC whether or not they choose to report to the police.
Counselling and therapeutic support is provided by qualified and experienced counsellors. It usually has a trauma-focused approach and is led by the survivor and what they wish to talk about.
Victim Blaming
Victim blaming can come from many sectors of society.
Along with the rape myths covered in the previous section, preconceived ideas of what a victim ‘looks like’ or how they should respond can do significant harm.
Victim blaming can also compound feelings of guilt that the victim may have.
Sometimes, authority figures add to a victim blaming culture. Some examples of this are below.
At the end of a rape trial, Judge Lindsey Kushner said that “as a woman judge, she felt compelled to plead to women to protect themselves” and that women were entitled to “drink themselves into the ground”, but that their behaviour was also putting them in danger.
The report finds that, at worst, officers demonstrated explicit victim blaming and lack of belief in the victim, which impacted on the subsequent victim
Barrister accuses Judge of implying that “only stupid women can be raped”
Canadian Judge asks victim why she didn’t “just keep her knees together?”
Media reports often seem to imply that victims of sexual violence are wholly or partly responsible for what happened to them.
The language used in media reports can determine whether the reader views it in a victim blaming manner. Media stories will often include information that seems to intentionally question the actions of the victim – such as ‘they were walking alone late at night’ or ‘they were drunk’.
Lying about rape or sexual assault is rare but, on occasions where someone is found to have done this, the media often give the case significantly more attention than they do for proven rapes or sexual assaults, thus implying that false reporting is common.
This view is sometimes reinforced by well-meaning awareness campaigns that put the emphasis for avoiding rape on the victim rather than targeting perpetrators.
Although meant as a way to improve safety, this poster implies that if the victim has been drinking, then rape is their own fault, and received wide spread criticism from organisations supporting sexual violence survivors
Alternatively, this poster clearly puts the blame on the rapist
You can access this image directly from Rape Crisis Scotland
Site opens in a new window
Consent
The legal age of consent to sexual activity is 16 for both men and women.
This does not mean that because you are 16 or over you have consented to sexual activity.
The law defines consent as
‘“if subject agrees by choice, and has the freedom and capacity to make that choice”.
In practice, this means
- • Whether the person has the capacity (i.e. the age and understanding) to make a choice about whether or not to take part in the sexual activity at the time in question.
- • Whether he or she was in a position to make that choice freely, and was not constrained in any way.
There is no requirement to communicate a lack of consent. A person does not consent if they are incapacitated through drink and they do not need to be unconscious through drink to lose their capacity to consent.
(Source: Crown Prosecution Service)
Watch this short film about consent
Remember
• Consent does not have to be given verbally
• If consent is given under fear or duress, it is not consent
• If someone is unconscious, they cannot give consent
• If someone is upset or afraid, consent is presumed denied
• Consent applies each time a sexual act takes place – agreeing once does not mean continued consent
• If a person doesn’t consent to sexual activity of any kind, 100% of the blame lies with the perpetrator or perpetrators
Rape Crisis England and Wales say:
Consent looks like:
-
Enthusiastically saying ‘yes!’.
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Talking to the other person about what you do and don’t want, and listening to them in return.
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Checking in with the other person – for example, asking ‘is this okay?’, ‘do you want to slow down?’ or ‘do you want to stop?’.
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Respecting someone’s choice if they say ‘no’. And never trying to change their mind or put pressure on them.
The Law
The Sexual Offences Act 2003 covers the non-consensual offences of rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
It defines “consent” and “sexual”, and sets out evidential and conclusive presumptions about consent.
The Sexual Offences Act covers a huge range of offences, some of which are listed below:
– Rape
– Assault by penetration
– Sexual Assault
– Causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent
– Offences relating to children under the age of 13
– Sexual assault and activity in relation to a child
– Child sex offences committed by children or young persons
– Sexual grooming/communication with a child
– Abuse of position of trust offences relating to children
– Abuse of position of trust offences relating to adults
– Sexual offences against a person with a mental disorder
– Sending or threatening to send intimate photographs or film
– Offences around prostitution and trafficking
– Administering a substance with intent
– Voyeurism
The full legislation can be read at Sexual Offences Act 2003 (legislation.gov.uk)
The Sex Offenders Register
A person who has been convicted of, or cautioned for, a ‘relevant sexual offence’ will be made subject to notification requirements – often referred to as ‘signing the sex offenders register’.
Such offences are set out in Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2023 and include rape and sexual assault by penetration.
Most sexual offences against children will trigger the notification requirements, including internet or computer offences where no physical contact with a child has taken place.
The length of time for which a person will be subject to the notification requirements depends upon their age at the time of conviction or caution, and the sentence that they have received and can range from 2 years to indefinite.
Sentencing
Select each of the following headings to find out about sentencing guideline for some of the offences that fall under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
The maximum sentence for rape is life imprisonment but the judge is required to take into account the specific circumstances of the offence in regards to harm to the victim and culpability of the perpetrator.
Sexual Assault can be split into a number of offences and again, harm, and culpability must be taken into account in sentencing. The maximum sentence is 10 years imprisonment.
Depending upon the type of sexual assault and the assessment of culpability and harm, sexual offences against a child can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Often referred to as ‘spiking’, the offence of Administering a substance with intent carries a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment. Aggravating factors must be taken into account and these can include that the intent of the perpetrator was to commit a sexual offence.
The crime of disclosing, or threatening to disclose, private sexual images covers images on photograph and film, including digital images and carries a maximum sentence of 2 years.
This offence was added in 2018.
Data shows that, in the 12 months ending September 2023, charges had been brought in just 2.4% of the 67,938 rapes reported to police in England and Wales that year.
This equates to 2 in 100 reported rapes seeing someone being charged.
Why do people who have been subjected to sexual violence choose not to report to the police?
Select each of the headings below to explore more.
People who have experienced sexual violence or assault are often worried that no one will believe them. These worries can be made worse if they feel that they are to blame for what happened to them.
Sexual violence doesn’t always leave physical marks or injuries.
If the victim had been drinking or taken drugs they may feel they are to blame, or they may not remember the details of what happened.
Perpetrators will often target people who are vulnerable in some way as it is usually easier to assert control over them. If the perpetrator is someone in a perceived position of power (for example a boss, a celebrity) the victim may be worried that they will be targeted by supporters of the perpetrator.
If the perpetrator is known to them, victims may be worried that reporting the incident will make things worse.
Whether the perpetrator is known or is a stranger, they may have threatened that worse will happen if the victim goes to the police.
It is usual for people who have experienced sexual violence or assault to feel embarrassed and ashamed about what has happened to them. They may also feel they are wholly or partly to blame.
Some people feel that they should have fought back or tried to escape.
Reporting a sexual assault or rape to the police can be a harrowing experience. The person will have to explain what happened to them in detail – they may find it difficult to put it into words.
If the incident was recent, the police may ask that forensic examination is done and this can feel like a further violation. If relevant, the police may keep the victim’s mobile phone for evidence.
If the victim is a child, they may be embarrassed if they have to be accompanied by someone they know, they may be worried that they will get into trouble for something.
If the case gets to court, the victim may be terrified by the thought of seeing the perpetrator again or worried that the court will allow the perpetrator to ask them questions.
Special Measures in Court
There are two special measures that can be activated before the trial:
- Video recorded evidence-in-chief – allows The Crown Prosecution Service to video record evidence before the trial and play it back during trial. The prosecution and defence barristers will still ask additional questions in court to clarify any issues.
- Video recorded cross-examination or re-examination. This special measure allows The Crown Prosecution Service to record cross-examination and re-examination before the trial. The victim doesn’t have to attend the trial at all and the video-recorded evidence-in-chief and cross-examination will be played to the jury and court instead.
In addition, there are six special measures that can be used during the trial.
The first four are available to both vulnerable and intimidated witnesses, which includes all victims of rape and serious sexual assault, and the final two are only available to vulnerable victims and witnesses.
- Screens. Screens are usually curtains or panels that the court places between the witness box and the defendant so the witness can’t see the defendant when giving evidence or being cross-examined. The judge, jury and barristers can see the witness and the witness can see them.
- Evidence by live link. This is usually a television link from a private room within the main court building but may be another location such as a different courthouse, a specially designed room in a police station or a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). With live link, the witness will be able to see the person asking questions but usually won’t be able to see anyone else in the courtroom but everyone in the courtroom will be able to see the witness, including the defendant. The CPS can apply for screens to be used as well as the live link to stop the defendant being able to see the witness.
- Evidence given in private. This means the courtroom is cleared of everyone who doesn’t legally need to be there for the purposes of the trial. If the case is likely to attract media attention, one member of the press is allowed to stay in the court but the witness maintains anonymity.
- Removal of wigs and gowns by the judge and barristers. This is usually used for child victims and witnesses. This is aimed at helping them to feel more comfortable by making the court seem less formal.
There are two special measures which are only available to vulnerable victims and witnesses:
- Intermediaries. Intermediaries are people who can support the witness to fully understand and answer the questions. An intermediary will check that the questions are asked in a way that makes them easily understood and will help the witness to share their answers clearly with the court. ISVAs can also support the witness in court as a special measure.
- Aids to Communication. Aids to communication can include things like visual-aid boards, eye-gaze software, dolls or body-outline drawings. These can be used for witnesses who have a disability that means they need support to assist with understanding or answering questions.
(Source: Crown Prosecution Service, 2024)
The police take reports of sexual violence and abuse very seriously.
Recently the Home Office have worked with the National Police Chief’s Council to transform the police response to Rape and Serious Sexual Offences.
From this work, an a new operating model has been developed in conversation with victims and organisations supporting victims to ensure that victims’ rights and needs stay central to the process.
You can read more about this work at National operating model for the investigation of rape and serious sexual offences | College of Policing
Introduction
What is sexual violence?
Sexual violence is any unwanted sexual activity or act (including online) that was unwanted or involved one or more of the following:
- ● Pressure
- ● Manipulation
- ● Bullying
- ● Intimidation
- ● Threats
- ● Deception
- ● Force
In other words, any kind of sexual activity or act that took place without consent.
(Source: Rape Crisis England & Wales)
Types of sexual violence :
There are many different types of sexual violence.
Some examples include:
- ● Child sexual abuse
- ● Rape
- ● Sexual assault
- ● Sexual harassment
- ● Sexual exploitation
- ● Sex trafficking
- ● Female genital mutilation (FGM)
- ● Indecent exposure or ‘flashing’
This list is not exhaustive. it is important to remember that sexual violence doesn’t involve consent.
Around half of domestic abuse cases involve sexual violence but this is hard to evidence as many victims do not disclose sexual violence.
Who does it happen to?
Anyone can experience sexual violence.
Data shows that:
- 1 in 4 women
- 1 in 6 children
- 1 in 18 men
have experienced sexual assault or abuse
Select each of the following headings for more information:
An estimated 3.3% of women (798,000) aged 16 years and over experienced sexual assault (including attempts) in the last year with the highest rate being in the age group 16-19.
Crimes recorded by the police in the year ending March 2022 show the victim was female in 86% of sexual offences.
(Source: ONS 2023)
An estimated 1.2% of men (275,000) aged 16 years and over experienced sexual assault (including attempts) in the last year.
(Source: ONS 2023)
The latest available data shows that 3.7% of people aged 16-59 in England and Wales with a disability experienced sexual assault in the last year.
This is broken down into 5.7% of women with disabilities and 1.1% of men.
These numbers are higher than data for people without disabilities.
(Source: ONS, 2022)
Police forces in England and Wales recorded 105,286 child sexual abuse offences during the year ending March 2023.
Local authority children’s services in England recorded concerns about child sexual abuse in 33,760 assessments of
children in the same period.(Source: Child Sexual Abuse Centre, 2023)
Sexual assaults against Gay or Lesbian people accounted for 12.8% of all sexual assaults in the year ending March 2022. for Bisexual people, this figure is 16.4%.
It should be noted that the sexual orientation of the perpetrator is not recorded in these data sets
(Source: ONS, 2022)
Data estimates that 1010 women and 941 men aged 60+ experienced sexual assault in the year ending March 2022.
This equates to approximately 1.5% of sexual assaults being against victims aged 60+ which is higher than the rate for victims aged 35-44 and 45-54.
(Source: ONS, 2022)
Where does it happen?
At Home
The most common location for rape or assault by penetration to occur is in the victim’s home (37%), followed by the perpetrator’s home (26%).
(Source: ONS, 2020)
At Work
There is currently no UK data on sexual violence in the workplace but a US study found 5.6% of women and 2.5% of men reported some type of sexual violence by a workplace-related perpetrator.
(Source: National Library of Medicine, 2020)
Some behaviours defined as Sexual Harassment are also sexual violence - for example unwanted sexual touching and indecent exposure (flashing). in a UK survey, 26.5% of people aged 16 and over reported experiencing at least one of the forms of sexual harassment within the last 12 months.
(Source: ONS, 2023)
At School
Between September 2019 and March 2021, Ofsted received 291 complaints about schools that referred to child-on-child sexual harassment or violence, including online sexual abuse.
More recently, there have been calls for data on sexual violence in schools to be robustly and routinely collected.
(Source: Ofsted, 2021)
Guidance for schools on Keeping Children Safe in Education (2023) includes sexual violence and harassment in schools (Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023.pdf
In Public Places
The latest data on location of offences of rape and assault by penetration show that the assault had taken place in a park, other open public space, car park or on the street for 9% of victims.
(Source: ONS, 2020)
Technology Facilitated Sexual Violence and Abuse
TFSVA refers to any form of sexual violence, exploitation, or harassment enacted through the misuse of digital technologies. This includes, but is not limited to, image-based sexual abuse, online sexual exploitation and harassment, sextortion, and the non-consensual sharing of sexual images.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) facilitated sexual abuse is emerging as a new threat. A report from the Internet Watch Foundation in 2023 found that a total of 20,254 AI-generated images were found to have been posted to one dark web CSAM forum in a one-month period.
The most convincing AI images are visually indistinguishable from real images, even for trained analysts. There is now reasonable evidence that AI has increased the potential for the re-victimisation of sexual abuse victims. AI has also been used to create videos seeming to show victims retracting allegations.
The next section on The Law has information about criminal legislation in regards to technology facilitated abuse.
Who are the perpetrators?
No one particular community or group perpetrate
sexual violence more than any other.
90% of people who are raped know the perpetrator.
The latest available data shows that the majority of victims who have experienced rape or assault by penetration since they were 16 years old reported that the perpetrator(s) were male (98%). Almost two-thirds (65%) reported that the perpetrator was a male aged between 20 and 39 years
In addition, most were victimised by their partner or ex-partner (44%). This was closely followed by someone who was known to them other than a partner or family member (37%), which includes friends (12%) and dates (10%)
More than one in seven women (15%) reported being assaulted by a stranger, whereas this was true for almost half of male victims (43%)
Those who perpetrate sexual violence do so to gain
power and control over another person and use a forced sex act to achieve this.
Cambridgeshire data
● 2705 sexual offences against adults were reported to
Cambridgeshire police in the year ending March 2023
● Cambridgeshire police recorded 1475 crimes of sexual abuse in the year ending March 2023
Rape Crisis England and Wales say that 5 in 6 women and 4 in 5 men who are raped don’t report to the police. We will look at some of the potential reasons for this in the section titled ‘The Law’.
Further Learning
If you are an employee of Cambridgeshire County Council or Peterborough City Council, please see your internal learning and development sites for details of further domestic abuse related training.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Boards offer formal training and also some free informal online presentations (SWAYS) on domestic abuse related topics.
Training includes using a DASH Risk Assessment, Coercive Control, Adults at risk and young people. For more information please visit https://www.safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk/home/multi-agency-safeguarding-training/
Free SWAYS include DA & Dementia, Completing a DASH refresh, Adults at Risk, and Avoiding Victim Blaming https://www.safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk/home/virtual-briefings-sways/
The Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Partnership have a monthly newsletter – if you’d like to be added to the distribution list, please email DASV@Cambridgeshire.gov.uk
The Cambs DASV website provides a range of useful information and downloads, including:
- Information on how to support a friend or family member who is being subjected to domestic abuse Cambridgeshire County Council DASV Partnership – Opening Closed Doors (cambsdasv.org.uk)
- Information on being an active bystander and how to safely intervene if you witness abuse and harassment Cambridgeshire County Council DASV Partnership – Bystander Information (cambsdasv.org.uk)
- Free posters to download and print for display in your local area Cambridgeshire County Council DASV Partnership – Posters for free download (cambsdasv.org.uk)
The Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Partnership run a DASV Champions Network. The network is open to anyone who wants to learn more about domestic abuse and is particularly relevant to people working or volunteering with the public.
The DASV Champions Network provides free quarterly awareness sessions (delivered online) on a variety of topics.
For more information please visit https://www.cambsdasv.org.uk/web/dasv_champions/343773
Support
What are my legal rights?
Domestic abuse is a crime and there are several specific offences that can be considered by prosecutors, including:
- Controlling or Coercive behaviour
- Disclosing, or threatening to disclose, Private Sexual Photographs and Films without Consent
- Offences Against the Person
- Rape and Sexual Offences
- Stalking and Harassment
- Social Media Communication
- So-Called Honour-Based Abuse and Forced Marriage
- Child Abuse (non-sexual)
- Offensive Weapons, Knives, Bladed and Pointed Articles
- Non-fatal strangulation and non-fatal suffocation
- Breach of a restraining order, breach of a non-molestation order and breach of a stalking protection order.
- Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Smuggling
- Female Genital Mutilation legal
More information can be found on the Criminal Prosecution Service website https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/domestic-abuse
What is the Police response?
The Police take cases of domestic abuse seriously and receive training on how to deal sensitively and proactively with both victims and perpetrators.
Officers attending a domestic abuse incident will complete a risk assessment form and will offer advice on places and ways to seek support.
In 2014 the Government introduced Domestic Violence Protection Notices (DVPN) and Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPO). A DVPN is issued by the police to protect victims from further violence or threats.
If the perpetrator does not adhere to the DVPN, a DVPO can be granted by a magistrate that can ban the perpetrator with immediate effect from returning to a residence and from having contact with the victim for up to 28 days, allowing the victim time to consider their options and get the support they need.
Clare’s Law
The Home Office domestic violence disclosure scheme, is named after Clare Wood who was murdered in 2009 by her ex-boyfriend, who had a history of violence against women.
Under the scheme, members of the public can make enquiries about their partner’s past, or as a third party who is concerned about someone they know who might be at risk of harm.
If you are applying as a third party, you must have some form of relationship with the potential victim such as sister, mother, friend, work colleague or neighbour. You must be able to supply details of the person who is potentially at risk of harm. You can make an application for disclosure by speaking to a police officer, calling 101, or visiting a police station.
After being approached by an individual, both the applicant’s and potential victim’s details must be recorded. No disclosure is to be given over the phone or in person at this stage. An appointment will then be made with a uniformed officer who will confirm the potential victim’s identity. This should take place within 10 days.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough support services
DASS (Domestic Abuse Outreach Service) provide outreach support to victims and survivors of any gender or sexual orientation Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
DASS can be contacted on 0300 373 1073 (Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm)
There are four women’s refuges in Cambridgeshire for victims of high risk domestic abuse, provided by Cambridge Women’s Aid, Refuge and Peterborough Women’s Aid. Victims from Cambridgeshire would not normally be housed in the same area.
- Referral to a women’s refuge is via the IDVA service via the DASH risk assessment checklist.
- Referral can be made by professionals only.
For child protection/safeguarding enquiries
- Call 0345 045 5203 (Cambridgeshire children) or
- Call 01733 864180 (Peterborough children)
For adult safeguarding enquiries
- Call 0345 045 5202 (Cambridgeshire Adults) or
- Call 01733 747474 (Peterborough Adults)
Cambridge and Peterborough Rape Crisis Partnership
The Elms Sexual Assault Referral Centre
National Domestic Abuse Helpline:
- Tel: 0808 2000 247
- http://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
Women’s Aid
Karma Nirvana (Honour Crimes and Forced Marriages)
- Tel: 0800 5999 247
- https://karmanirvana.org.uk/
Men’s Advice Line
- Tel: 0808 8010327
- http://www.mensadviceline.org.uk/
Galop – Support for LGBTQ+ victims
- 0800 999 5428
- http://www.galop.org.uk/
Rape Crisis England and Wales
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- Tel: 0808 802 9999
- https://rapecrisis.org.uk/
Hourglass (Elder abuse charity)
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- Tel: 0808 808 8141
- https:/Welcome to Hourglass | Hourglass (wearehourglass.org)
Survivor Support Programmes
Support programmes are provided for survivors by several organisations across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
For more information, please visit https://www.cambsdasv.org.uk/web/survivor_support_programmes/577113
Case Studies
Select each of the names to read the full case study:
Falvi is from India. She came to the UK on a spousal visa and had no recourse to public funds. After an incident of physical assault by her husband, she filed a complaint to the Police and they referred her to the IDVA Service.
Falvi is unable to speak English but the Ethnic Minority IDVA who was allocated her case can speak Falvi’s native language which helped hugely with communications.
Emergency accommodation was arranged for Falvi and her 3 year old son. The discussed options around support – Falvi is concerned about her immigration status as she is dependent on the perpetrator’s visa and was being threatened with deportation. The IDVA supported her to get immigration advice and further support. However, Falvi decided to reconcile with her husband. She shared this decision with the IDVA who completed relevant safety planning with her and also reassured her that support will always be available whenever she is ready.
Seven months later, Falvi was again referred to the IDVA service by children’s social care. Her husband had become even more controlling to the point that she was not allowed to go anywhere else except to meet the social worker. Her monitored her phone; therefore, it was not safe to contact her. He was in possession of all her and their child’s documents.
Fortunately, Falvi followed the safety planning advice given previously and she had scanned copies of all the important documents. The IDVA liaised with the social worker and arranged to meet Falvi at the library. The IDVA gave her a burner phone for her to speak to us and call in case of emergency.
This time around Falvi again decided she didn’t want to take any action. She was not minimising the abuse, but she was not ready, didn’t have the confidence to take a decision…maybe it was the fear of unknown, maybe she was still hoping to ‘save’ her family. This time the IDVA’s approach was more direct to motivate Falvi to make decisions but with caution so that she doesn’t feel pressurised. The IDVA advised her that she needs to reflect and ask herself how long she can live in these circumstances, how long she feels she can protect her child from the impact of abuse that she is facing.
Again, the IDVA provided reassurance that this will not have any impact on future support from IDVA service. We will offer support whenever she is in need. Unfortunately it wasn’t possible to refer Falvi to an empowerment course as none are available in her language.
Finally, three months later, Falvi called the IDVA from the burner phone and shared that she has left the marital home, and she wants support. The IDVA supported her with police action and was able to find a space in a specialist NRPF refuge. The IDVA service arranged transport for her to safely reach the refuge.
Later, Falvi contacted the IDVA, to share how happy she is at the refuge, she has one room, but she is at peace and living without fear. She said it is the best decision for her and her child. She doesn’t feel guilty for not ‘trying enough’ because she has and she was now sure that her husband was never going to change.
It is important to work at the pace of the client and offering/arranging support as per their needs at that time while empowering them with knowledge, encouraging them to end the cycle of abuse. More importantly, constantly assuring that they are not alone and the IDVA was able to practically demonstrate that in this case, with the help of funding that was available to us.
Carly is 15, she has been going out with Mark, 19, for 6 months. Her parents don’t approve of the relationship and nor do her friends.
She is a prefect at school and is expected to do very well academically.
In the beginning, Mark was really nice to Carly and bought her expensive presents and gorgeous clothes. He has a car so they can go out all the time and he takes her to a pub where she can get served alcohol. Mark never really liked to hang out with her friends because they are so young and he says he doesn’t have anything in common with them.
In the last few months he has become increasingly possessive of Carly. Last week he held her by the throat and spat in her face when she said she was going out with her friends at the weekend. Her friend Karen has said that she should dump him because he is a control freak but she doesn’t want to.
Kelly is 34. Her ex-partner had been arrested and charged with controlling and coercive behaviour, criminal damage and threats to kill, he was remanded in custody awaiting crown court trial. The case was transferred from another area to Cambs IDVAS as she had fled to temporarily stay with a relative. She was going to be imminently homeless due to her relative’s circumstances and she was also keen to be at an address unknown to the perpetrator and his network of associates who she feared despite the perpetrator being on remand. The case was assessed as high risk and was heard at MARAC. The threats insinuated that her ex-partner had a firearm.
The IDVA supported with Kelly’s housing application and her application was prioritised. The IDVA liaised directly with the housing officer and advocated for her not to be placed into temporary accommodation in a local hostel due to concerns that other residents could have links back to the perpetrator. The housing officer managed to find a suitable property and she moved into a new permanent address shortly afterwards.
The IDVA spoke with The Angels Foundation who supported Kelly with a washing machine, fridge freezer, cooker, table and chairs and sofa and Dunelm and Tesco vouchers.
The IDVA also referred Kelly to specialist mental health support and liaised with the OIC about the ongoing court proceedings.
Kelly’s ex-partner had harassed her at work and unfortunately her employer chose to dismiss Kelly as they were concerned about being involved in the issue. The IDVA was able to get supermarket vouchers, a foodbank voucher and a Christmas hamper
In time, Kelly’s ex-partner appeared in court and the IDVA supported her through to the crown court trial. – AT court, Kelly’s ex-partner pleaded guilty on the day of the trial and was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment and an indefinite restraining order was issued that also covered the addresses of Kelly’s family.
A few months later Kelly got in touch to say she has a new job and her self-confidence has increased. She feels safe in her new home.
When she was 27, Mary started doing some volunteer work at a café near her house. While working at the café, she got talking to a man that visited regularly – he also had a learning disability but lived independently in his own flat. They began a relationship and, 18 months later, they got married. Mary moved into her husband’s flat. They were keen to have children and, when she was 29, Mary gave birth to a daughter.
Since she first started going out with her husband, he liked to be in control. He didn’t like it when she talked to other men when she was working at the café and would often sit in the café watching her. He said he was just keeping an eye on her because he was worried about her. Mary felt protected. But after a while Mary’s boss said she was unhappy because Mary was talking to her boyfriend when she should have been working.