Damian Green, the
victims minister, said the fund would also help historic victims of
sexual violence. Photograph: David Gadd/Allstar/Sportsphoto Ltd/Allstar
UK launches £500,000 fund to help male victims of rape and sexual abuse
Minister says he wants to break silence on 'taboo' subject after crime survey estimates 72,000 men a year are victims
The creation of the fund comes as the latest set of crime figures showed there were 2,164 rapes and sexual assaults against men and boys aged 13 or over recorded by the police in the 12 months to last November.
The crime survey for England and Wales estimates that there are as many as 72,000 male victims of sexual offences every year, whether they are reported to the police or not.
The victims minister, Damian Green, said the new fund would also help "historic victims" who were under 13 at the time. He said: "We believe around 12% of rapes are against men. Yet many choose not to come forward, either to report the crime or seek the support they need. I am determined to help break the silence on a subject still seen as a taboo."
Green said the average sentences for male rape had increased but there was still more to do: "That is why we are toughening up sentencing and have introduced a mandatory life sentence for anyone convicted of a second very serious sexual or violent crime."
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/feb/13/uk-fund-male-victims-rape-sexual-abuse
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