Refocusing rape investigations:a commentary on research supporting Operation Soteria Bluestone

This paper presents a commentary on the academic research that was undertaken in support of a pilot project in Avon and Somerset Constabulary to develop a new rape investigation model, Operation Soteria Bluestone. A five-pillar approach re-oriented investigative practice towards suspect focussed case building whilst maintaining support for complainants. In addition, organisation enablers were developed to enhance specialist training, intelligent use of data, and promoting officer welfare and wellbeing. The empirical papers addressed various aspects of the five Pillars. Proof of concept, conduciveness of the political, economic, and social environment, and connectivity with other associated work were employed as appraisal criteria. There is much to commend in the proposed model but the absence of research on suspects and offenders, given their prominence in the model’s new direction, together with the lack of a strong implementation framework, are omissions that hopefully will be addressed in the future.