Home Office Good Practice Seminar
Violent Crime Seminar
Workshops - 15 September
Workshop 1
Lancashire SAFE Centre: partnership working in supporting sexual assault complaints
Carolyn Barrett, Manager/Forensic Nurse Examiner, and Cath Thundercloud, Lancashire Police
The SAFE centre was opened by HRH the Princess Royal in October 2002 and is located in the grounds of the Royal Preston Hospital in central Lancashire.
It is a dedicated, purpose built forensic medical examination centre which also offers counseling and support for women, men and children who have experienced sexual assault or rape. It has revenue funding from Lancashire Constabulary and the health service, and the capital funding to build came from a local business man
Referrals come from a number of sources including self referral, and a member of the team is available 24 hours, seven days a week, 52 weeks per year. Counseling is available to victims, their partners or other family members and carers. Advice is offered on sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy, and support and assistance with criminal proceedings and with criminal injuries and compensation claims. Historic cases could also be dealt with through the centre.
Examination only takes place with the consent of the individual concerned, which can be withdrawn at any time throughout the proceedings. The examination suite and pre-exam area is DNA de-contaminated between each interview/examination and the process is logged each time, showers and clothing are provided for victims, and the examiners also are required to shower and change between each session. A crisis worker is with the complainant throughout.
Evidence can be securely stored at the centre for those people who do not wish to report the assault until such time as they may change their minds. In fact, of the self referrals who initially refuse to report, 96% have so far gone on to seek police action.
The delegates at the workshop were asked to discuss the issues around setting up such a centre and their findings are summarised below.
There is difficulty in engaging the right partners and getting the 'buy in' for people
The 'one stop shop' seemed ideal, but in reality their experience was that facilities were fragmented causing problems with access for victims
Clear protocols for sharing information and around disclosure issues would need to be established
Awareness needed to be raised within support agencies and the service needed to be marketed effectively
Using common language promoted a common understanding
Education was big issue in order to remove the stigma attached to such cases, and also to promote the need for people to appreciate the reasons behind collecting effective evidence
It was agreed that the need for immediate counseling and support should be promoted across agencies.
Download the Lancashire SAFE Centre PowerPoint presentation (1,155 Kb)
Last update: 01 December 2004