Vital new support is available to victims across Dorset as reports of sexual offences more than double in eight years.

Public Health England (PHE) has launched the South West Survivor Pathway, an online resource designed to support professionals working with survivors – and their families, friends, colleagues and employers – to help them access services across the region.

According to PHE, number of sexual offences recorded by police across the south west has more than doubled over the past eight years from 4,346 in 2010/11 to 11,968 in 2017/18.

The increase in reports of sexual offences is thought to be driven by improvements in recording practices and a greater willingness of victims to come forward to report crimes, including non-recent victims.

Lara Snowdon, PHE South West violence prevention lead said: "The South West Survivor Pathway brings together the range of specialist sexual violence services from the across the south west. The resource is broken down by local authority and was developed with people who work in the sexual violence sector.

"The aim of the website is to provide a trusted source of information that is regularly updated, is practical and easy to use for professionals working with survivors, and for survivors and their families who are looking to access support.

"We want to reassure people who are using the site, that we do not ask for or collect any personal information about you so you can feel confident that the site protects your anonymity.

"We know how daunting it can be to navigate through the health system to know how to get support and we hope this website will make that journey much easier. These services are often vital in rebuilding lives and acknowledging the long-term effects of sexual trauma."