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Own My Life CEO Natalie Collins speaks at British Transport Police’s annual SOLO conference
Our CEO, Natalie Collins, was invited to speak at the British Transport Police’s (BTP) annual conference for Sexual Offences Liaison Officers (SOLOs).
Here, Natalie reflects on the conference, the challenges of bringing sexual offenders to justice and the importance of supporting women in policing.
I feel a little too much in the spotlight, if I’m honest. But I also know we need to seize this moment — for Own My Life, for the women the course reaches, and for everyone who is part of this sisterhood.
SOLOs are specially recruited and trained officers who provide ongoing support to people who have reported a sexual offence to BTP. These offences may have taken place on a train or in a transport hub anywhere in Britain (BTP does not operate in Northern Ireland).
by Natalie Collins
CEO and Founder
One of the most striking statistics shared at the conference was BTP’s attrition rate for sexual offences. Attrition refers to the proportion of people who withdraw from the criminal justice process after reporting a sexual offence.
While the average attrition rate across UK police forces is 56%, BTP’s is just 11%.
Some of this difference may be explained by the fact that offences take place in public spaces. However, I also learned from a conference attendee that BTP requires all its SOLOs to undergo a full recruitment process, whereas in other police forces officers can move into the role after completing the relevant training.
This raises important questions about the value of specialist roles, the qualities needed to support survivors and the difference that dedicated, carefully selected officers can make.
Understanding the patterns of serial sexual offending
Another presentation explored the case of Ricky Stubberfield, who was convicted in October 2025 of raping and assaulting multiple women. The presentation examined the complexity of the investigation and how his involvement in BDSM and swinging facilitated his sexual violence towards women and girls.
In 2014, I established Fifty Shades is Domestic Abuse, a campaign group that used the popularity of the Fifty Shades books to raise awareness about abuse.
I remain convinced that the books significantly contributed to the normalisation of strangulation during sex, bringing practices that had previously been relatively niche into mainstream culture.
Although the campaign received support from many people who personally practised BDSM, I remain concerned about the potential for exploitation wherever sexuality is framed around violence, degradation or power plays. These dynamics can create opportunities for dangerous men to disguise and facilitate abuse, as this case illustrates.
Another deeply concerning aspect of Stubberfield’s offending was his decision to establish a teeth-whitening business as a deliberate tactic to facilitate further assaults.
His approach demonstrated an understanding of something that is too often overlooked by feminists who focus solely on women’s choice: industries that encourage women to modify their bodies in order to be considered acceptable can also create opportunities for exploitation.
Stubberfield deliberately created a business that attracted women who had been encouraged to believe they needed to change their appearance to be good enough. The treatment involved women lying down with a teeth-whitening kit in their mouths, leaving them gagged and vulnerable. He then used that situation to assault them.
It is a disturbing example of how perpetrators can exploit existing inequalities, commercial pressures and women's insecurities to create opportunities for abuse.
The importance of policing that understands women's experiences
The presentation offered important insights into the complex police work required to bring serial sexual offenders to justice. It also highlighted the significant, but often under-examined, role of the Crown Prosecution Service in making charging decisions and ensuring that court processes are as safe as possible for victims.
It was encouraging to see officers who clearly cared deeply about the women involved in the case. At the same time, it was sobering to consider the emotional toll involved in investigating and prosecuting men who commit such serious and sustained acts of violence.
Validate, Regulate, Celebrate: sharing the Own My Life model
My presentation was the second of the day, and I used the opportunity to introduce delegates to the Own My Life model:
I explored how the language we use can make a profound difference to women's understanding of their experiences, their recovery and their ability to move forward. My book, Abuse Is A Verb, includes many practical examples of how we can use language to challenge the dynamics of abuse and support women.
I also shared the difference that Own My Life is making within police forces.
Female police personnel who have attended Own My Life courses tell us that the experience has helped them to stay in the force rather than leave, pursue promotions and make better decisions when dealing with domestic abuse cases. They also describe feeling more able to advocate for other women within policing and having fewer sick days.
These are significant changes. Supporting women to understand their experiences, build their confidence and recognise their own strength benefits not only the women themselves but also the organisations they work in and the women they serve.
You can find out more about the impact of Own My Life in police forces HERE and in Episode 7 of our podcast HERE.
My colleague Victoria Mason stayed at the conference to take part in a panel discussion later in the day, as I had to rush to London for the Independent Podcast Awards.
Changing policing, changing women's lives
There is still much that needs to change within policing. However, my time at the SOLO conference reminded me that there are many officers who are deeply committed to making a difference to women who have experienced men's violence.
In many ways, BTP is leading the way in ensuring that women who report sexual offences receive the specialist support they deserve. It was inspiring to meet officers so committed to this work and a privilege to contribute to their efforts.
At Own My Life, we know that when women are validated, regulated and celebrated, the impact can reach far beyond the individual. It can change workplaces, professional practice and the way women are supported by the systems around them.
That is why this work matters.
AI was used in drafting this post.
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