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Rape and sexual offences

Authorised Professional Practice

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This page is from APP, the official source of professional practice for policing.

First published
Updated
Written by College of Policing
Major investigation and public protection
4 mins read

Rape and sexual offending are among the most serious and high-impact crimes against the person. Learning more about the impact of this abuse on victims and understanding how to take better account of the effects of trauma in our work builds trust and confidence and encourages victims to report. Consequently, the number of disclosures to police is increasing.

To support officers and staff in responding effectively to reports, the College is developing specific advice aimed at various levels of response and investigation. This includes first responders, secondary investigators, supervisors and managers and leadership. Our aim is to help our colleagues deal effectively with victims of these terrible offences and fulfil their vital roles in the investigation process.

The first of this suite of advice briefings focuses on initial response and is published below in a format that can be easily accessed using mobile technology. The publication of this briefing note decommissions the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) (2009) Briefing Note on First Response to Rape.

Offences committed abroad:

The following document remains current until further notice:

Those listed below are available to authorised users who are logged on to the restricted College Learn.

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