Several organisations wrote to us to describe the trauma and impact on victims having to wait longer for their cases to be heard.37 In the evidence session, the Department set out some of the actions it is taking to better support victims. It is increasing what it spends on victim support services from £92 million in 2019–20 to £185 million by 2024– 25, including funding for rape support centres and sexual violence support services.38 It has launched a consultation on improving victims’ experiences of the justice system.39 It is also increasing the number of independent sexual violence advisers (ISVAs) to 1,000 by 2024–25. The Department told us that ISVAs support victims from earlier on in the process and have been shown to reduce by 50% the likelihood of a victim withdrawing their support.40 Data to understand the system