Devon & Cornwall police in rape initiative

Attempt to increase numbers brought to trial

Devon and Cornwall Police has joined Operation Soteria Bluestone, a transformational approach to improve outcomes for rape and sexual offence cases.

The force will work with the Crown Prosecution Service following five initial project areas to ensure that victims are supported and that they have confidence perpetrators will be brought to justice. 

This new approach, funded by the Home Office, was piloted with Avon & Somerset Police last year.

Based on the findings of the academic research of Soteria Bluestone, a Plymouth scheme called Operation Gemstone is underway in a project that will last six months. Four teams of investigators, each led by a detective sergeant, are providing a specialist response to rape and sexual crimes in a significantly different approach to usual. The pilot tests the principles of academic research.

Staff will receive additional development to increase their skills and knowledge in investigating rape and serious sexual offences.

Lisa Cassidy, district crown prosecutor for CPS South West said: “Operation Soteria Bluestone is police and prosecutors working together in a more collaborative way than ever before to improve the experience of those affected by serious sexual offences and to support more rape victims in seeing justice.

“More than that, it is also the beginning of a national model which will enshrine agreed effective collaborative and evidence led working practices which are already starting to have a positive effect, reversing the decline in cases that make it to court.”

Alison Hernandez, police and crime commissioner, said: ““Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is already one of the safest areas of the country, and my aim is to make it even safer.

“In my Police and Crime Plan for 2021-25, I pledged to tackle violence against women and girls in part by continuing to address the causes and consequences of sexual violence.

Alison Hernandez is police and crime commissione

“The innovative and collaborative approach of Operation Soteria Bluestone will be a cornerstone of policing to achieve this, not least by bringing more offenders to justice and thus reducing the opportunity for them to reoffend.”

The police forces involved in the expansion of Operation Soteria Bluestone are: Devon & Cornwall, Gwent, Dyfed-Powys, North Wales, Northumbria, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Kent, Dorset and Sussex.

If you are affected by rape or a sexual offence, in an emergency always call 999

These organisations are also available to help:

• National Rape Crisis Helpline 0808 802 9999
• Devon and Cornwall Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) 0300 3034626+
• Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Independent Sexual Advisor Service 03458 121212
• Victim Care Unit 01392 475900
• Safer Futures - Domestic Abuse Support, Cornwall 0300 777 4777
• The Women’s Centre Cornwall 01208 77099
• Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Services 01392 204 174