Local NHS expert helps shape National Guidance on rape
A leading NHS expert from Merseyside is helping to shape national guidance into protecting victims or rape and sexual assault.
Shelly Stoops, from Liverpool Community Health (LCH) NHS Trust and Manager of SAFE Place Merseyside, spoke at the first ever National Conference on the Investigation and Prosecution of Rape.
The conference took place on Wednesday 28th January in London and focused on the treatment of rape victims within court and police investigations. It also examined the issue of consent.
The event featured some of the UK’s leading experts including the Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt and Nazir Afzal OBE, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North West.
Shelly spoke on the importance of supporting victims of rape and sexual assault throughout the judicial process. She was joined by Nazir Afzal – who led the legal teams that reopened and prosecuted the Rochdale grooming case in 2012.
Along with His Honour Judge Picton, they emphasised the importance of dispelling “myths and stereotypes” about rape and demonstrating that there is no model victim.
The conference has led to new advice to police in England and Wales clarifying the circumstances in which a person can consent to sex, instructing officials to look at the whole context of a rape allegation.
The new guidance also spells out that behaviour such as staying silent or using contraception does not signify consent.
Shelly Stoops, Manager of SAFE Place Merseyside for Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust, said:
“It is so important to support the victims of rape and sexual assault. The new guidance is to ensure that officers and prosecutors look at the whole context and not to just focus on what a victim did or said. Hopefully this will also educate the public and victims that the blame for sexual violence lies with the perpetrator and not the victim.”
“It was important to be part of the conference and to speak about victim’s treatment in the Criminal Justice System. Hopefully we can move forward and ensure the system is a far more supportive place for victims.”
SAFE Place is the Sexual Assault Referral Centre for the Merseyside area and offers a service to females and males who have been sexually assaulted.
The SAFE Place helpline is open 24 hours a day 365 days a year 0151 295 3550, you can also follow them on Twitter @SafePlaceMside.