Home Secretary James Cleverly visit to County Durham

Mr Cleverly paid a visit to Durham Police's training centre in Meadowfield Industrial Estate, near Langley Moor, to hear about how over 300 Durham police officers have received new specialised training in investigating sexual offences.

This will mean victims of these harrowing and often complex crimes will receive better support throughout the process as their perpetrators are brought to justice.

Mr Cleverly visited Durham Police's Meadowfield training facility on Thursday (May 16) (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

During the visit, Mr Cleverly heard from several Durham Police investigators about reports of sexual assault, while he expressed words of encouragement to officers in training at the Meadowfield facility.

The Home Secretary also heard a harrowing first-hand account from a rape victim - who shared her experience of being sexually assaulted over 20 years ago.

The announcement over officer training comes one year on from the rollout of a new model for the investigation of rape across England and Wales, developed through the Home Office-funded Operation Soteria.

James Cleverly (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Between August 2022 and July last year, 87 more charges for rape and serious sexual assaults were secured by Durham Police officers compared with the 12 months before - an increase of 67 per cent. 

The number of charges for domestic-related serious sexual abuse more than doubled, increasing from 24 charges to 55 in the same timeframe.

Home Secretary, James Cleverly said: “As a government, we have gone further than ever before to protect women and girls, but we are not slowing down.

James Cleverly's visit to County Durham (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“Building on the progress we have made so far, we will continue to drive up prosecutions, protect victims and put more sex offenders behind bars.”  

Alongside speaking about the training that officers have had and Operation Soteria, Mr Cleverly hit back at criticisms of newly re-elected Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen, who questioned why there are fewer officers than before the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The Home Secretary said: "There is money on the table for police and crime commissioners for extra officers. In Essex, there has been significant investment in police officers - and I would question the Durham Police and Crime Commission and believe she should have numerous questions asked of her and the lack of officers.

Despite Mr Cleverly's visit advocating about training Durham Police officers, he was quizzed about court delays after the Government launched an emergency plan to tackle the overcrowding “crisis” in jails, which could mean that victims are waiting significantly longer to see justice.

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He said: "We are making sure we continue to prioritise the most serious crime types - we want to make sure, whether it's sexual offences or other violent crimes, these people are found and put through the criminal justice system. 

"With regard to managing the demands on our cell places, this is a byproduct of two things that have happened.  First, unlike other countries around the world, we decided not to let people out of prison through Covid - which was the right decision. And we have also made sure that perpetrators of violent crimes are serving their sentences, so the people that should be behind bars are behind bars. 

"We will prioritise these dangerous people and keep them behind bars, both in Durham and across the UK."