Every stage, explained gently.

You can report to the police any time after an assault — there is no time limit for reporting rape or sexual offences in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Reporting is your choice. You can dial 999 if you are in immediate danger, 101 for non-emergencies, or attend a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for a forensic medical examination without speaking to police first.

You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. A specially trained officer (Sexual Offences Liaison Officer / SOIT) should support you throughout. You can request an officer of a specific gender.

Police investigate by taking your statement, gathering forensic and digital evidence, and identifying witnesses. You should be kept informed at every key stage. If a suspect is arrested, they may be released under investigation or on bail with conditions.

Under the Victims' Code, you have the right to be told within 5 working days if a suspect is arrested, charged, released, or bailed.

Police pass the file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). A specialist Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) prosecutor decides whether to charge, applying the Full Code Test: (1) is there enough evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction, and (2) is prosecution in the public interest.

If the CPS decides not to charge, you have the right under the Victims' Right to Review (VRR) scheme to ask for the decision to be reviewed.

Rape cases are heard in the Crown Court before a judge and jury. As the complainant, you are a witness for the prosecution. You will be cross-examined by the defence barrister. The judge controls the questioning and can stop questions that are inappropriate.

You are entitled to "special measures" to help you give your best evidence: giving evidence behind a screen, by live video link from a separate room, or pre-recorded cross-examination (Section 28). You can also request a court familiarisation visit before the trial.

The jury of 12 decides the verdict. A "guilty" verdict requires them to be sure beyond reasonable doubt. The verdict is not a comment on whether you were believed — juries can only convict if the legal standard is met on the evidence presented.

A "not guilty" verdict does not mean the jury thought you lied. Many survivors find this stage extremely difficult, regardless of outcome. Support is available either way.

If the defendant is convicted, the judge will pass sentence — sometimes immediately, sometimes at a later hearing after pre-sentence reports. Sentencing is guided by the Sentencing Council guidelines.

You have the right to make a Victim Personal Statement (VPS) explaining how the crime has affected you. It will be read or played to the court before sentencing.

The defendant may appeal against conviction or sentence. The Attorney General can refer "unduly lenient" sentences to the Court of Appeal within 28 days. You will be informed if an appeal is lodged.

If the offender is sentenced to 12+ months for a sexual offence, you can join the Victim Contact Scheme (VCS), which keeps you informed about release, parole hearings and licence conditions, and lets you submit a Victim Personal Statement to parole.