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Survivors’ voices drive change at second Victims’ Voice Forum
The second Warwickshire Victims’ Voice Forum, held in partnership with Warwickshire Police, brought survivors and professionals together to share experiences, rebuild trust, and improve the criminal justice response to sexual abuse.
100% of attendees said the Warwickshire Victims’ Voice Forum was valuable.
Safeline hosted its second Warwickshire Victims’ Voice Forum in January. This partnership with Warwickshire Police and survivors built on the success of the first and created an ongoing space for honest dialogue between survivors of sexual abuse and professionals working across the criminal justice system. At Safeline, we know that when survivors are listened to meaningfully, change follows.
Professionals spoke of gaining a clearer and more human understanding of how a disjointed criminal justice response can retraumatise survivors. Hearing lived experience directly – not through policies or presentations, but from people themselves – was described as powerful and transformative.
One participant reflected: “I thought I was here to teach them, but I learned so much too.”
Survivors shared something equally significant. Many attended believing their role was to educate professionals. Instead, they left having learned, healed, and in some cases begun to rebuild trust in a system that had previously let them down. Being listened to, believed, and treated with dignity made a tangible difference.
There was a clear and consistent call for wider survivor involvement across the criminal justice system. Survivor insight should not sit on the margins; it must be embedded at every level where decisions are made.
As one voice on the day put simply: “Everyone should be part of this forum.”
At Safeline, we believe listening to survivors is not optional. It improves responses, strengthens accountability, and helps create justice systems that are safer, fairer, and more compassionate. Survivor involvement is about power-sharing and building systems that truly meet survivors’ needs.
We are proud to continue our partnership with Warwickshire Police and support survivor-led spaces like the Warwickshire Victims’ Voice Forum. Ensuring survivors are recognised as experts in shaping the services and systems that affect their lives.
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