Sexual violence victims in UK forced to wait years for counselling and support

Availability of therapy and legal help varies hugely across the country, with some having to wait two and a half years for help

Victims of sexual violence in England and Wales are facing waits of up to two and a half years for counselling, help with the legal system and trauma therapy, according to figures obtained by the Observer.

Getting help is becoming harder, with average waiting times rising by as much as eight months in the last three years depending on where in the country the services are. The average increase across all services is 63% since 2020, according to responses from 34 out of all 41 police and crime commissioners (PCCs) to a freedom of information request (FoI) by the Observer.