Police access to rape victims' counselling notes restricted

Police access to rape victims' counselling notes restricted

Requests to access victims' personal records can only be granted when necessary and proportionate, under new guidance.

New rules block police from requesting victims' counselling notes

Counselling Victims are to be given more privacy after new rules were introduced blocking police from requesting counselling notes during investigations unless in exceptional circumstances. Victims and survivors of rape and sexual assault will be provided greater privacy and dignity during police investigations under significant changes announced by the Home Office today. Under the new measures, police and other agencies will only be able to req…

UK Moves to Protect Rape Survivors’ Privacy

Victims and survivors of rape and sexual assault in the UK are set to receive greater privacy, dignity and protection during police investigations following significant changes announced by the Home Office. The new measures aim to rebuild trust in the justice system, reduce retraumatisation and encourage more survivors to come forward. For many women within migrant and diaspora communities, including Nigerians living in the UK, reporting sexual …

Campaign Win: #Keep Counselling Confidential | End Violence Against Women

Today (12th January 2026) the government has implemented new rules to stop police officers from routinely trawling rape survivors’ private counselling notes, following a successful campaign by the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), Rape Crisis England and Wales, Centre for Women’s Justice and Rights of Women. Wrongful focus on victim credibility rather than the suspects’ actions For too long, when a victim of rape reported the offence …