Norfolk's Community Safety Partnership scrutiny panel heard on 27 April that increasing victim confidence in reporting sexual violence remains a key priority, with partners pursuing perpetrator-focused interventions and whole-system approaches informed by Domestic Homicide Reviews.

Liam Bannon, Community Safety Manager at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk, introduced the report, which drew on national Crime Survey data to estimate the prevalence of domestic abuse, sexual violence, stalking and harassment across the county. The report highlighted the wide-ranging impacts on victims, including links to addiction, housing insecurity and suicide, as well as significant effects on children's emotional and behavioural development.

Panel members raised concerns that economic disadvantage — another documented consequence of domestic abuse — had not been included in the report, and suggested this be reflected in future updates.

Questions were also asked about whether victims could report information about offenders anonymously, so that details could be recorded and linked to any future reports. Amanda Murr, Assistant Director of Policy and Partnerships, said she would explore this further and bring information back to the panel.

On misinformation, Murr told councillors that the Partnership was actively using Local Government Association (LGA) guidance, partnership training and work with specialist organisations to address inaccurate media narratives around domestic abuse and sexual violence. Where factual errors appeared in media coverage, public sector bodies were said to challenge these directly where appropriate.

The panel agreed that LGA online training resources on tackling misinformation should be circulated to all current councillors and included in the induction programme for members elected after the May 2026 elections.

Community Safety Communications Officer Suzannah Armstrong-Cobb told the panel that upcoming campaigns would focus on improving public understanding of what constitutes sexual offences, including non-contact offences, with a myth-busting campaign planned to help people recognise harmful behaviour earlier.

The panel noted the report and requested that further details on anonymous reporting routes be brought back at a future meeting. Links to support services for victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence and hate crime were included directly in the meeting minutes.