National Crime Agency (NCA)’s Post

So..... I am a little late to the party but I have just watched Baby Reindeer. I was a bit fed up of reading about bloody Martha so thought I had to give it a go. Question: Why are we talking about Martha? Why an earth are we not talking about the man that groomed, raped and sexually abused Richard Gadd? Could I be controversial and suggest if Richard was female and the same scenes were played this may be a different conversation? The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) for the year ending March 2022 estimated that 2.3% of adults aged 16 years and over experienced sexual assault (including attempts) in the last year. In the same period, the police recorded 193,566 sexual offences in England and Wales, which was the highest level recorded. Rape accounted for 36% of recorded sexual offences in the year ending March 2022. It’s also reported that approximately 12,000 men aged 16-59 experience rape, attempted rape or sexual assault by penetration in England and Wales every year. Only around 15% of those who experience sexual violence report to the police. From a collection of studies and Home Office reports in 2013, it has been estimated that each year 75,000 men become victims of sexual assault, with approximately 9,000 men becoming victims of rape. The CSEW year ending March 2020 estimated 0.7% of men (155,000) aged 16 to 74 years experienced sexual assault (including attempts) in the last year. These statistics highlight the prevalence of sexual violence against men and the challenges in reporting and addressing these crimes. Why are we not having this conversation? Actually blows my mind!

Another example of how close international law enforcement cooperation can produce positive results, in this case between the NCA and EUROPOL.

Take a look at this powerful story, which demonstrates the process that Sosa was able to take when transforming from gang member to mentor.   After reading about Sosa Henkoma's story in an article in the Guardian last week I thought it would be good to highlight some of the key points from a Desistance perspective. Desistance means the point of Termination from Crime but deals with both the psychological and sociological aspects of what it takes to get to that point of termination. I was introduced to this theory by Dr Martin Glynn, a criminologist who used this theory to help me understand my own story and pathway out of crime. The thing is desistance is pretty consistent for most people who are exiting from a life of crime. Understanding this framework gives practitioners clues and cues for intervention.   Sosa, whose life was entangled in a web of drugs, gangs, and violence, after being trafficked as a child, managed to remove himself from a lifestyle of crime. His story demonstrates some of the hallmarks that can be useful to observe when supporting young people impacted by gangs, violence and exploitation. I believe if practitioners can learn to identify and understand this process, it will help them to better understand how to support young people.      Sosa's story revolves around overcoming his Poor self-concept (see my previous post on Poor self-concept) that led to a Nihilistic existence. Becoming a Father marked the pivotal moment for Sosa, initiating the first stage of Desistance – the point of no longer wanting to be in the lifestyle, but still being caught up. Sosa still ends up going to prison, which he sees as a blessing, as this gives him the time he needs to shape his new identity, the period of calmness, and self-reflection leads to his rebirth and ultimately the Second stage of Desistance – Abandoning crime for good. Finally, Tertiary Desistance – Sosa finds a sense of belonging to family and community, where he supports other young people to exit from gangs.   🔸 Understanding Desistance is crucial for practitioners, offering hope and purpose when working with young people involved in gangs, serious youth violence and exploitation.   🔸 Intervention (outside of immediate safety) should focus on working with young people, supporting shifts in their self-concept and enabling agency for belonging to family and community. 🔸 Read Sosa Henkoma's story, observe the shifts, stages and reflect on where the young people you work with are in this process. Primary Desistance: In and Out of Criminality Secondary Desistance: Abandon Crime for Good Tertiary Desistance: A Sense of Belonging to Family and Community   https://lnkd.in/ecx97e9x Interested in Learning more about improving your practice - Take the serious youth violence scorecard - https://bit.ly/3mhdmfg #SurvivalStories #ExitStrategies #SeriousYouthViolence

Extract-Two-thirds of sexual assault support centres in England branded inadequate More than two-thirds of England’s specialist support centres for victims of sexual assault or abuse have been found to have flaws in the care they offer in their most recent full inspections, the Observer can reveal. Almost half were found to be breaching their minimum legal obligations to victims in their last full inspection, with problems ranging from a failure to deal with suicide and self-harm risks, cleaning so bad it risked contaminating forensic evidence collected for criminal cases, and failures to do adequate background checks on the staff working with victims… While the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England, inspects SARCs to ensure they are meeting legal minimums for care outlined by the government, it is not allowed to issue individual grades for each centre as it does with hospitals or care homes. However, it does produce individual reports into each centre, outlining any recommended improvements or legal breaches. By reading each of the most recent reports, the Observer discovered that 72% were found to be in need of improvements… An NHS spokesperson said: “All providers – whether they are NHS or independently run – are expected to provide safe, high-quality care and deliver on all their contractual and legal obligations. The NHS will continue to work closely with the CQC to monitor, identify and take appropriate action where it is needed.” Mountain Healthcare declined to comment. Extract-Mountain Healthcare's vision is to be the centre of excellence in Health and Justice by delivering the best quality patient care. We work hard to provide trauma-informed services that ensure equal, effective and efficient care to all our patients. A partner of NHS England and the Police, our unique services include healthcare in Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs), Police Custody and Secure Environments. Our expert care is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. https://lnkd.in/eW27Nksx https://lnkd.in/eVzwu8rc

As a ‘Survivor of Domestic Abuse, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), Sexual Assault & Sexual Harassment’ it is crucial we offer alternative ways to report such insidious and vile crimes. Survivors should not be retraumatised over & over again, having to repeat intimate details of their harrowing ordeals, simply to be told ‘Sorry there’s not enough evidence to arrest, pursue a prosecution, merit to take to the CPS…’ It is heartbroken to be told, over and over again, your pain means nothing, that no-one will be held to account, that you do not even deserve so much as a ‘sorry’. The perpetrators, if they are even arrested and questioned, are released without charge, every time - only to wave their NFAs around, as ‘proof’ to support their case: “Look she’s lying; the Police don’t even believe her. Why would they release me without charge everytime? She’s making it all up. She’s abusing me by reporting me. She’s harassing me by reporting lies and fabrications. She’s crazy, delusional, psychotic, fabricating things…” Victims deserve to be heard. To be validated. To be accepted. To be granted Justice. We can do better. We must to do better. This just isn’t good enough. Not by a long shot! End Violence Against Women & Girls International: Why do we need alternative reporting options? Check out the image below to find out why… Seek Then Speak is EVAWI’s new program that allows sexual assault survivors and support people a way to privately gather information and explore options for medical care, supportive services, and reporting to police (SEEK). If they choose, survivors can then begin the process of reporting to police by completing a detailed, self-guided interview (SPEAK). Failing Victims: https://lnkd.in/ehDpy944 Phoenix Rising - Still I Rise 🔥🔥🔥

Trigger Warning: This post is about my work with people who have sexually offended against children. My family and friends often wonder how I can provide intervention for people convicted of sexual offences against children. It is certainly not easy, and certainly not for everyone. My work requires me to delve into the human capacity to do unfathomable harm. It requires me to read detailed information police have provided about specific offences and overcome my own feelings of aversion in order to maintain hope that my intervention may be effective. A child sex offence is never just a single moment, regardless of whether the child was abused once or hundreds of times. For the victim survivor, a single act of abuse can permeate their entire lives and also deeply affect the lives of their loved ones. Yes, primary prevention and strategies aimed to prevent abuse in the first place are crucial. Perhaps the next most powerful opportunity to intervene is after someone has been charged or convicted of such offences. This is what drives me to want to make a difference. I have a strong sense of responsibility to many people – the victims of sexual offences, the families of victims, the community that people who have committed sexual offences will be released back into, the children these people may potentially cross paths with in the future, and the people themselves who need to turn their attention inwards and explore what they need to change. At Magnus Health, I am part of a team which recognises that: · The majority of people convicted of sexual offences will be released from prison one day and living amongst us and our children. · It is possible to support a person to enhance their strengths and positive characteristics, whilst also holding them accountable for their offences. · No matter how horrendous the behaviour, humans always have the capacity to change. I take my hat off to all the professionals who provide such intervention, some of whom have also been victims of such offences.

Education is key!

What is the Child Sexual Abuse Review Panel (CSARP)? If a victim or survivor reported allegations of child sexual offences before 5 June 2013 and the police or the CPS decided that no further action should be taken at the time, they can request that the Child Sexual Abuse Review Panel reconsider the decision, if they are not satisfied that the original allegations were dealt with appropriately. CSARP is a joint enterprise between the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Cases will be considered if: The report is about an alleged sexual offence against the victim or survivor; The victim or survivor is referring to a report previously made to the police about the sexual offence; A decision to take no further action was taken by the police or by the CPS; The alleged sexual offences was committed when the victim or survivor was under 18 years of age; The alleged offender may still pose a risk; The alleged offence was committed in England and Wales; The case was investigated and marked no further action by police or CPS before 5 June 2013. It is important to note that even if the victim or survivor has previously asked the police or the CPS to look at the decision they made previously, their case will still be considered. Find out more information from the attached leaflet.

What is the Child Sexual Abuse Review Panel (CSARP)? If a victim or survivor reported allegations of child sexual offences before 5 June 2013 and the police or the CPS decided that no further action should be taken at the time, they can request that the Child Sexual Abuse Review Panel reconsider the decision, if they are not satisfied that the original allegations were dealt with appropriately. CSARP is a joint enterprise between the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Cases will be considered if: The report is about an alleged sexual offence against the victim or survivor; The victim or survivor is referring to a report previously made to the police about the sexual offence; A decision to take no further action was taken by the police or by the CPS; The alleged sexual offences was committed when the victim or survivor was under 18 years of age; The alleged offender may still pose a risk; The alleged offence was committed in England and Wales; The case was investigated and marked no further action by police or CPS before 5 June 2013. It is important to note that even if the victim or survivor has previously asked the police or the CPS to look at the decision they made previously, their case will still be considered. Find out more information from the attached leaflet.

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