Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has a strategy to reduce instances of male rape.

The Government’s definition of violence against women and girls (VAWG) encompasses crimes which disproportionately, but not exclusively, affect women and girls. We recognise that men and boys experience these crimes, including rape, and we are committed to ensuring that male victims and survivors get the support that they need.

The Government has made several commitments to transform the criminal justice response to sexual offences for all victims. This includes introducing free, independent legal advice advisors for victims of adult rape; and fast-tracking rape cases.

In far too many cases, we know victims aren’t getting the justice they deserve. That's why it is so important that police and prosecutors continue to drive forward the transformational change through Operation Soteria, a joint policing and Crown Prosecution Service programme, that has developed new national operating models for the investigation and prosecution of adult rape. We are continuing to fund Operation Soteria to support policing and prosecutors to build the strongest possible, suspect-focused cases.

In addition, the Home Office has invested in specialist support services, such as Respect, Galop, SignHealth, and Hourglass, which provide essential support to male victims. We will publish a new VAWG Strategy this year to help ensure all victims of these crimes are better supported.