Transforming how we investigate rape and serious sexual assault (Operation Soteria)
Operation Soteria is a Home Office research programme that has brought together police forces, academics and policy leads to use evidence and new insight to enable police forces to transform their response to rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO).
Core to the delivery of change is the dissemination of and engagement in learning by police forces and key stakeholders.
The ultimate product from the programme is the development of a national operating model for RASSO to be used by all 43 Home Office police forces.
Two new National Operating Models, one for the investigation of rape and one for the prosecution of rape, have been developed and all police forces and CPS Areas in England and Wales have committed to implementing them.
North Yorkshire Police committed to the implementation of Operation Soteria in 2023.
There are six pillars that underpin the programme and here at NYP, our pillar leads will develop the programme of work to embed Soteria across North Yorkshire led by our programme lead, Detective Chief Inspector Nichola Holden.
Visit this page for regular updates about Operation Soteria in North Yorkshire.
Timeline
North Yorkshire Police commits to implementing Operation Soteria.
North Yorkshire Police completes its nationally-set self-assessment to determine where we are now.
2023 – 2024 the force promotes the national survivors experience survey on behalf of the City of London University – view the report here.
July 2024
North Yorkshire Police hosts a symposium for partners and practitioners. Attendees included frontline officers, detectives, police staff, safeguarding partners, Independent Domestic Abuse Services, the Crown Prosecution Service and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors.
The audience heard from each of our six pillar leads who explained where we are now following our self-assessment and the next steps we need to take to embed the changes across the county. This was followed by a workshop with questions posed to the audience by each of the pillar leads.