Question
Could the Chief Constable provide a timeline in relation to the “Rape Myths Training” and include how many officers, out of 4,000, have yet to undertake the training and when will this take place?
Answer
The training launched in August 2023 and there have been 8 sessions undertaken to date, and 3 further full day training sessions planned in coming weeks. This will focus on Public Protection Branch, Professional Standards Department and a number of representatives from Local Policing Command. Due to other training commitments the in person sessions have been paused since January to facilitate Domestic Abuse & Civil Proceedings Act Year 2 training (a legislative commitment) and DVADs workshops (a legislative commitment with the change in thresholds in December 2023) and other domestic abuse workshops delivered by other organisations.
Number of Officers Trained
Domestic abuse (Stalking related – SPO) 1383
Domestic abuse 1462
Evidence led 1376
Rape myths 350 – the train the trainer sessions will be delivered to approximately 1500
In person training sessions are scheduled to recommence in April 2024. The sessions will be open to approximately 40 delegates per session.
The ‘Train the Trainer’ sessions are scheduled to be delivered before the summer with onward delivery of training being dependent on other operational commitments to deliver training although would occur through the 2024/25 financial year.
The desire was that rape myths would be delivered by NEXUS to the Police Service and that this would be a 12 month project to operational officers and staff members – expected to reach Local policing, Public Protection Branch, Custody, Professional Standards and other operational roles. The training materials were provided by NEXUS in conjunction with the PSNI lead and all materials approved.
Having reviewed the progress and the learning from the first 4 months of delivery in consultation with the NEXUS lead it was decided to deliver 3 more in person sessions to capture the rest of Public Protection Branch and Custody staff before developing a ‘Train the Trainer’ approach which will deliver the same message with reduced operational extractions.
The rape myths training is a co-designed project with NEXUS designed to raise discussions on any potential victim blaming culture and to debunk myths in this area of work. It is based on best practice and tackles a number of thematic areas which have been raised through the Op Soteria Project in England and Wales and also the findings of Sir John Gillen’s 2019 review into rape and serious sexual offences investigations.
Brendan Mullan