Extra funds for sex crime victims announced

An extra £1.25 million will be made available next year to services that support the victims of sexual crime, the Home Office announced today.

The funding is part of a wider £3 million package and will go towards services such as crisis, counselling and legal advice centres, as well as helpline services.

The news comes amid new controversy about rape victims – a judge yesterday dismissed a rape case after ruling that as the alleged victim said she was too drunk to remember if she had given consent, the jury was obliged to return a not guilty verdict.

Announcing the extra funding, victims minister Fiona Mactaggart said: “This additional funding will help local community-based organisations to support victims in the immediate wake of a crime, provide practical help and advice in the longer-term and counselling where needed to help victims through the criminal justice system.”