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<p>The Government is committed to tackling the unacceptably high victim attrition
rates in sexual violence cases. We know that access to counselling and therapeutic
support when and where victims most need it increases victim engagement. That is why
in March this year we increased funding available to these essential services by 10%
- up to £8m per year and totalling £24m over the next three years. This funding ensures
that, for the first time, that there are government-funded services in all 42 of the
country’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) areas and by extending it from one to
three years, it provides greater security and sustainability for the sector to deliver
their essential services. This is in addition to the £68m we allocate to PCC’s to
locally deliver support services for victims of crime, including for victims of sexual
violence, as they are best placed to respond to local needs.</p><p> </p><p>Moreover,
in the cross-government Victims Strategy, which we published on 10 September 2018,
we made a commitment to improve support for all victims of crime, including by increasing
the number of Registered Intermediaries, communication experts helping vulnerable
victims and witnesses give their best evidence at police interview and at court.</p><p>
</p><p>The Government also recognises the importance of understanding the decline
in the number of rape and serious sexual offences reaching court and being charged.
It is vital we grasp this issue, which is the Criminal Justice Board (CJB) has committed
to a cross-government end-to-end review of response to serious sexual violence and
adult rape. We have established a Sub-Group of the CJB to oversee this review and
a stakeholder group made up of victim organisations to ensure the inclusion of the
victim experience.</p>
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