Wiltshire Police is piloting a new approach for "stronger and more efficient" rape investigations.

The force has joined a national project to strengthen its approach to tackling serious sexual offences, which has backing from the county’s police and crime commissioner (PCC).

Aiming to create a “national operating model” and improve police response, Operation Soteria Bluestone includes a Home Office funded research and change programme.

Wiltshire Police will become one of 14 forces to adopt the operation.

The focus of the model, which will be rolled out to all 43 police services in England and Wales, is suspect focused investigations, identification of repeat and serial offenders, victim engagement, learning, development and wellbeing for officers, and better use of data and digital forensics.

'Victims of rape and sexual assault deserve better'

While PCC Philip Wilkinson accepts that Soteria Bluestone “does not offer an overnight solution”, he hopes the innovation will “improve the service both locally and nationally”.

He added: “The totality of the criminal justice system has, all too often, let victims of rape and serious sexual offences down.

“I have said many times that victims of rape and sexual assault deserve better, and I am confident that with this additional support, we will collectively make Wiltshire a safer place to live, work and visit.”

Sarah Robbins, Wiltshire Police detective superintendent, said: "We are pleased to be one of the latest 14 police forces to join Operation Soteria Bluestone, contributing to developing a new national operating model for stronger and more efficient rape investigations.

"We look forward to working with the Operation Soteria team to further improve our support to victims and focus on the continual pursuit and prosecution of the people who carry out these awful crimes.”

The expansion programme will build on the learning identified from the five initial operational forces of the Metropolitan Police Service, Durham Constabulary, West Midlands Police and South Wales Police, in addition to Avon and Somerset Constabulary who first piloted Operation Soteria Bluestone at the beginning of 2021, as a response to the Government’s end-to-end rape review.

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