An East Midlands woman is working to improve how sexual assault victims are supported by police
The victim who was attacked in 2016 says it's important survivors have their emotions understood
Last updated 17th Feb 2024
A woman from the East Midlands is working with police in Nottinghamshire to try and improve how rape and sexual assault victims are supported.
The woman, whose been kept anonymous, was attacked back in 2016.
She's been sharing her story to try and help police officers understand the thoughts and emotions of victims who come to them to report an attack.
One thing she's been stressing is how scary it is to speak out.
In an interview she told us what was going through her head after she was attacked:
"I almost thought do I even need to tell anybody? I thought maybe I could save everyone around me the hurt from the ripple effect that it has. But I'm so glad that I didn't do that because everyone around me has been so incredibly supportive."
She stressed that while her case was being investigated, she was left feeling angry and betrayed:
"I just felt my whole life was on pause for that investigation, and I think that's what I'd like investigators to realise is that you've got a person, whose just waiting for you to be done with that case, whatever the outcome looks like."
The woman's been working in other ways to raise awareness, specifically related to the kind help available to victims.
She's said it's important survivors know about the resources available to them, so they can access them if they need to:
"You can go to a sexual assault referral centre, have the swabs taken, and they can keep them while you decide if you're going to do anything or not. You don't have to involve the police at that point".
Nottinghamshire Police have an online service to report rape, sexual assault, and other sexual offences like indecent exposure.
On their website they say they promise to treat everyone who comes to them "with respect", and will "always put your health and wellbeing first."
A report can be done for something that's happened to you, or to someone else.
You can also report anonymously, without giving any of your details.