Charity Contributes Towards Increase In Sexual Offence Convictions

A sexual trauma service said it has seen a significant rise in the number of people being convicted of rape and serious sexual offences.

Between April and June 2024, the Sexual Trauma and Recovery Services (STARS) in Dorset said it had helped to achieve 13 guilty verdicts in court leading to offenders being jailed for a total of 64 years, including one sentence of 9 years.

Chief Executive Helen Stevens added there had been “quite a significant shift” in the number of people going to trial and attributes the change to an increase in specialist support available to victims.

One survivor who had enlisted the help of the service said that she would have been unable to go through the criminal process without the support of her Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVA).

People expect the perpetrators of sexual abuse to be exposed and punished accordingly regardless of their age or the amount of time that has passed since they committed their crimes which was the case here. Additionally, this report highlights the dedication of supportive organisations and the extent to which they will go to help survivors of abuse, not only with their day-to-day traumas, but also in bringing their assailants to justice.