Police given training on sex crime investigations (From Chorley Citizen)

Police given training on sex crime investigations

1:34pm Wednesday 1st July 2009

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Lancashire police are being given training on the investigation of rape and serious sexual assault.

A total of 120 police officers from all divisions across the county are currently going through the Sexual Offences First Responder course being run by the Criminal Investigation Training Department based at headquarters in Hutton.

The course is aimed at providing front-line officers with the necessary skills and knowledge to respond and deal with complaints of rape and serious sexual assault.

The one-week course will train officers on the crucial actions which must be carried out within the 'golden hour' following a complaint of rape or serious sexual assault.

It includes fast track actions on arrival and places a strong emphasis on the welfare of the victim, including forensic examination at the SAFE Centre in Preston.

This centre provides victims with immediate medical help and counselling on one site.

The course also covers the preservation of forensic evidence, such as the use of early evidence kits, techniques in recording evidence of an early complaint and in taking the first account from a complainant.

A new report recently highlighted Lancashire Constabulary as having the sixth highest conviction rate in the country for rape investigation (10.3per cent in 2007) and it is hoped the new course will improve this rate even further.

Detective Inspector Derry Crorken, from Lancashire Constabulary's Criminal Investigation Training Department, said: "By ensuring a properly trained and skilled investigator attends the first report of any rape or serious sexual assault it will provide a high quality of service to complainants who will feel more confident in engaging with police and our partner agencies, such as the SAFE Centre and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVA).

"This will assist in securing the best available evidence to assist any investigation.

"Training 120 officers across the Constabulary will enable divisions to be able to respond to complaints of rape or serious sexual assault within one hour."

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