The prime minister announced that specialist officers for rape and other sexual offences will be deployed across every police force in England and Wales by 2027, bringing forward a previously announced timetable.
The scheme had been scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2029, but the government says the rollout will now be accelerated. The change means the target date for having dedicated specialists in place on every force is two years earlier than planned.
Officials have described the move as a national priority for policing, with the aim of ensuring specialist handling of investigations into sexual offences across the jurisdictions of England and Wales. The announcement covers the presence of named roles devoted to rape and sex offences on all local forces.
Details on implementation, including how the accelerated timetable will be resourced and organised, were not part of the headline announcement. The shift in schedule sets a new deadline for police forces and the Home Office as they plan recruitment, training and deployment to meet the 2027 target.