Abstract

Most police forces in England and Wales make use of specialist rape or sexual assault investigation units. Yet, there is little robust research concerning the impact of such units or their efficacy compared to a non-specialist policing response. This report details the results of an analysis of 441 police case files involving a specialist rape investigation unit (Operation Bluestone) and a comparator non-specialist policing area. The case file data comprises all rape investigations conducted over a two year period. The report examines the progression of recorded cases through the criminal justice process, case characteristics, victim care and support, vulnerability and crime recording. Analysis of the case file data shows that the Bluestone unit outperformed the comparator across a range of performance measures.

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