Table 5 Overview of Theme 4 with representative quotes

The Criminal Justice System fails victims of sexual assault

Service providers express frustration with lengthy police investigations, citing detrimental effects on SARCs’ and police credibility. Concerns include survivors’ well-being, communication issues, and the need for additional training to address survivors’ unique needs.

‘We’re talking minimum 18 months to 2 years, it’s too long for the individual, it retraumatises victims, its completely wrong and that really needs to be looked at and escalated to a much quicker process.’ (SARC manager)

‘If a client knew that, even if a trial didn’t happen for another two years actually they could get their head around that but it’s this being in a limbo for up to a year of not knowing whether the charge is going to go forward’ (Sexual Trauma Counsellor)

‘The more you do this type of work it gets increasingly difficult to not say to them quite overtly don’t bother reporting because it’s only going to retraumatise you, it’s going to result in nothing anyway so don’t put yourself through that, concentrate on trying to heal.’ (Crisis Worker)

‘Dealing with the police officers that may be bringing a victim of sexual assault to us who don’t understand the process and then that’s quite difficult um or can be quite difficult because they don’t always know what the journey is like for the victim either’ (Crisis Worker)

‘I think especially male police officers bringing in a female client and vice versa really, I think it can be fairly inappropriate, just not so good for the client.’ (Crisis Worker)

‘I would say it should be from a police point of view it should be sexual violence officers and people that are trained to deal with that. Just for a better experience for the client and for the organisation of everything and having what you need with you for the journey for the client. In [removed for anonymity] you do get sexual violence officers start to finish.’ (Forensic Nurse Examiner)