Partners to improve sexual assault services
Partners across Coventry and Warwickshire including the police, NHS, County and City Councils have joined together to form a Strategic Board aimed at improving services for victims of sexual assault and establishing a Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Warwickshire Assistant Chief Constable Neil Brunton who chairs the Strategic Board said "Our aim is to encourage victims of serious sexual offences such as rape to come forward and seek help whether from the police, NHS or local support agencies such as Rape or Sexual Abuse Support Project (RoSA), Safeline, Coventry Rape & Sexual Abuse Centre (CRASAC) or the Terence Higgins Trust.
"It is about developing a support network for those affected and we believe establishing a Sexual Assault Referral Centre for the people of Coventry and Warwickshire would help achieve this.
“This is a large project that will take some time to deliver. In the meantime, agencies will be working together on a joint Coventry and Warwickshire improvement plan focussing on sexual assault prevention, detection and victim support.
”By looking at the ‘big picture’ in this way across all agencies, we will be working together to identify gaps in service provision and to rectify such issues."
We will also be looking at how we can improve health care, support, education and awareness about rape issues and the nature of rape and its causes as well as promoting excellence in the prevention detection, and prosecution of rape in line with national best practice.
The Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) will offer a place where you can report a rape or sexual assault, whether to the Police or Centre staff only and benefit from medical treatment and counselling.
Support will be provided by dedicated staff who will explain all the various options available.
If at a later time you decide to report the assault to the police all the relevant forensic evidence will be available.
Forensic evidence may still be passed to the police, with your permission, even if you want to stay anonymous.
Sexual assault can affect anyone, male or female, adult or child. If you have been sexually assaulted, there are agencies in Coventry and Warwickshire who want to help you. It does not matter if the assault occurred months or even years ago, please still come forward.