“OUR goal is to ensure victims of sexual offences and rape feel heard, supported and empowered when they report an offence to us.”
That’s the message from Superintendent Natalia Ross at the start of the national Sexual Abuse and Violence Awareness Week, which runs from today (Monday 3 February) to Sunday (9 February).
The campaigning week focuses on addressing sexual abuse and violence and aims to challenge misconceptions surrounding these issues and provide a platform for survivors to tell their stories.
Supt Ross, part of our Public Protection leadership team, said: “We understand the devastating impact these crimes have on survivors, and we are dedicated to ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met.
“This happens by creating a safe environment where survivors can come forward with confidence, knowing that their cases will be handled with the utmost care and professionalism.
“Tackling sexual violence is a national issue for us in policing and for society too, but here in Essex our commitment to victims is that you are at the heart of our response, and you will get our comprehensive support.
“This includes working with partners who provide vital support services across the county for the victims and survivors of all forms of sexual abuse and violence.
“By ensuring our dedicated officers have access to enhanced training, we can ensure they carry out thorough and sensitive investigations, using the latest forensic and investigative methods to gather strong evidence as we build cases to take before the courts.”
Essex Police is investing time and resources into bringing those who carry out sex offences in our communities to justice.
Supt Ross added: “We know people haven’t always felt confident to report these types of crimes, but we want to urge anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault to get in touch.
“Please contact the police or one of the specialist support agencies in the county.
“You will be listened to, believed and we will fully investigate.”
Synergy Essex offers independent and specialised services for individuals who have experienced rape or sexual abuse in Essex.
Synergy Essex is a partnership of three services; Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse (CARA), SERICC Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service, and Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis (SOS Rape Crisis).
The services provided by Synergy Essex are independent of the police. This ensures individuals can seek help whether they choose to report the incident or not. This could be in relation to something that happened recently or in the past.
Survivors and victims can access support by reaching out on their own or through a referral from someone they trust. This could be a family member, friend, or professional.
At Synergy Essex, people of all ages can benefit from specialised emotional support. This includes counselling and advocacy.
For those pursuing legal action, they offer the help of an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA). The advisers can guide and support them through the criminal justice process.
To learn more about the services available, please visit the Synergy Essex website.
