Free Civil Legal Support for Survivors of Sexual Violence
We are calling for a national fund to provide free, specialist, trauma-informed civil legal support for survivors of sexual violence, so that access to justice no longer depends on wealth.
never reach trial
- Most survivors never reach criminal justice: less than 3% of the approximately 70,000 annual reported rapes reach trial in the UK. Many more are never reported.
- Sexual violence has a high public cost: an estimated £100,000 - £250,000 per case.
- The total cost of sexual assault is approximately £400 billion per year in England and Wales across healthcare, safeguarding, and lost productivity, according to Rape Crisis.
- Civil justice exists - but is inaccessible: most survivors cannot afford civil legal action.
- Even small reductions create major savings: a 1% reduction could save £400m-£1bn annually; a 5-10% reduction could save £3-10bn per year.
- More civil cases increase deterrence over time: as civil action becomes more common, the likelihood of consequences rises, reducing repeat harm - especially where criminal justice cannot proceed.
Every year, thousands of people affected by sexual violence are left without a viable route to justice. Many feel unable to continue through traditional reporting pathways, or discover that their case cannot proceed despite their willingness to engage.
Others seek accountability long after the assault, when criminal reporting may no longer be possible.
For this large group of survivors, civil justice is often the only remaining route - yet one that is effectively inaccessible without substantial legal and financial resources.We are calling for the UK Government to introduce free, specialist, trauma-informed legal support for survivors who want to pursue justice through civil action. This would ensure that every survivor, regardless of income, has the possibility of being heard and supported through a recognised legal process.
This support would NOT replace the police or the Crown Prosecution Service. Instead, it would offer a safe, credible, and fair pathway for survivors who currently have no accessible legal options, while remaining fully compatible with state routes should reporting later become appropriate.
Beyond providing individual justice, expanding access to civil action would have broader public benefits. Civil accountability increases the perceived likelihood of consequences, creating a meaningful deterrent to serial offenders and those who rely on reputational protection to avoid scrutiny.
Even a small reduction in offending - just 1% - would prevent thousands of future assaults. A 5-10% reduction would save £3-10 billion annually, far exceeding the cost of the scheme.
Given the significant social and economic cost of sexual violence, such deterrence would generate substantial national savings in healthcare, mental health provision, safeguarding, lost productivity, and long-term social impact.
Civil justice therefore delivers value both to survivors seeking closure and recognition, and to society by promoting safety, fairness, and economic responsibility.
The Scale of the Problem
Around 70,000 rapes are reported each year. Only under 3% of these reach trial. This leaves approximately 68,000 survivors each year without a route to justice through the state. An estimated 5 in 6 rapes are never reported, meaning many survivors never have the opportunity to seek accountability.
The consequences for wellbeing, safety, mental health, and long-term stability are profound.
What Civil Justice Means in Practice
Civil justice is an established legal route in the UK, distinct from criminal proceedings.
Standard of Proof
Civil courts use the "balance of probabilities standard." This means the court decides whether it is more likely than not that the assault occurred - a lower threshold than the criminal standard of "beyond a reasonable doubt."
Possible Outcomes
- Financial damages, recognising the harm and loss caused.
- Court declarations of wrongdoing, providing formal legal acknowledgment.
- Injunctions or restraining orders, depending on the circumstances.
- Reputational and professional consequences where relevant.
What It Means for the Offender
Civil findings do not impose criminal penalties such as imprisonment or a criminal record.
However, they do provide survivors with:
- A recognised legal route to seek accountability where criminal action is unavailable.
- A formal determination that the defendant is responsible for the harm caused.
- Consequences that can be significant: financial liability, reputational impact, safeguarding implications, and - where relevant - professional or regulatory action.
Why This Support Is Needed
Civil justice is an established legal route, but the costs involved mean very few survivors are able to use it. Many cannot afford legal fees, expert reports, court costs, or representation.
Meanwhile, some alleged perpetrators are eligible for free legal support through Legal Aid, including representation in criminal matters - creating a significant imbalance in access to justice. Survivors, by contrast, must fund their own civil action entirely or go without.
Free civil legal support for survivors would:
- Provide survivors with realistic choices about justice.
- Allow cases to proceed where police or CPS action is unavailable.
- Offer financial accountability through compensation claims.
- Support those who, for many reasons, could not report earlier.
- Improve safety and reduce repeat harm, including in cases involving serial offending.
Cost and Feasibility
If free legal support enabled even 10% of currently unproceeded cases to go forward, this would represent around 7,000 additional civil cases each year.
How the Costs Were Calculated
Civil litigation costs vary depending on complexity, expert input, the length of proceedings, and representation needs. Estimates are based on typical fee structures for serious sexual-violence civil claims, including:
- Solicitor preparation
- Barrister representation
- Expert reports (medical, psychological, forensic)
- Administrative and court costs
- Case management and safeguarding processes
A realistic budget range is £140–400 million annually.
Deterrence and Public Safety
Improved access to civil justice will not only provide survivors with a route to seek accountability - it will also function as a significant deterrent.
Why?
- Serial offenders are disproportionately represented in sexual violence. Many commit multiple assaults across years or decades. When survivors are resourced to act early - even civilly - these offenders are disrupted sooner.
- Civil accountability affects perpetrators who are reputationally or professionally sensitive. Individuals in positions of trust or status often rely heavily on their reputation; the possibility of a civil judgment can be a powerful deterrent.
- Accountability increases perceived risk. At present, the effective risk of consequence is extremely low. Increasing the likelihood of legal action shifts behaviour, particularly for opportunistic perpetrators.
- Civil cases can produce safeguarding effects. Findings may lead to professional restrictions, organisational actions, or regulatory consequences.
Social and Economic Gain
The average social and economic cost of a rape is estimated at £100,000–£250,000 per victim, considering healthcare needs, long-term mental health impact, lost employment, reduced earning capacity, and wider societal costs.
If increased accountability led to even a 1% reduction in overall offending, this would prevent over 4,000 rapes each year, saving £400 million to £1 billion.
A 5–10% reduction would save £3–10 billion annually, far exceeding the cost of the scheme.
How Cases Would Be Selected
To ensure fairness, credibility, and proportionality, cases would be subject to clear, rigorous criteria, preventing any risk of an uncontrolled “floodgate” effect. Criteria may include:
- Nature and seriousness of the offence
- Strength of available evidence
- Survivor vulnerability or safeguarding needs
- Survivor financial barriers
- Public interest considerations
- Survivor readiness and informed consent, assessed in a trauma-informed way
An independent oversight body should monitor consistency, transparency, and equity. This ensures that only viable cases receive support - reinforcing system integrity.
Our Call
We ask the UK Government to create a national fund ensuring free, specialist, trauma-informed legal support for survivors pursuing civil justice.
Access to justice should not depend on wealth. No survivor should be denied the possibility of accountability because of financial barriers.
Civil justice cannot undo the harm, but it can offer recognition, protection, and a meaningful path forward where other systems have failed.
If you agree with this call, please add your name to the petition.
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