05/02/2026
“We’re delighted that from today, police officers will no longer be able to routinely access r**e survivors’ private counselling notes, following our campaign to keep counselling confidential. Counselling is a space to explore feelings, and access to it is critically important in healing from trauma.
We now need to see strong implementation of the new guidance so that it is followed by police forces across the country, as well as an information campaign to inform survivors and therapists of their new rights”
Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW)
Victims to be given more privacy with new rules blocking police from requesting counselling notes during investigations unless in exceptional circumstances.