Theresa May has welcomed the announcement that the Government has achieved its target of opening 15 new rape crisis centres and providing funds for existing rape support services. Since 2011, over £4 million has been provided to rape crisis and support centres in England and Wales, including funding to create 15 new centres such as Trust House Reading, which supports rape survivors in Berkshire.
In 2008, in her capacity as Shadow Minister for Women, Theresa published the Conservative Party’s ‘Ending Violence Against Women’ strategy, which contained a commitment to create 15 new rape crisis centres. On 13th September, the Government announced that two new rape crisis centres will open in Grantham and Crawley, meaning that 15 new rape crisis centres have been or are in the process of being established.
The Government’s ‘Violence Against Women and Girls Action Plan’ has also seen progress made on police referrals to the Crown Prosecution Service. In addition, the Government has introduced ‘Clare’s Law’ which allows women to check if their partner has a violent history, and has allocated almost £40 million for specialist local domestic and sexual violence support services, including more than 80 independent sexual violence advisers
Commenting, Theresa said: “Rape crisis centres provide a vital service, helping rape survivors and ensuring that they receive the emotional support they need. I am delighted that the Government has fulfilled its commitment to open 15 new rape crisis centre, including one in Reading. This is a key part of our strategy to tackle domestic and sexual violence and to ensure that we do everything we can to end violence against women.”
