2 days ago
New standards for Exeter sexual assault referral centre
A new Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) is set to become one of the first in the UK to meet stricter forensic SARC in Exeter which opened in February provides specialist medical, practical and emotional support to people who have been raped, sexually assaulted or October all SARCs will be required to meet stricter standards in order to reduce the risk of collected evidence being challenged in court. Lyndsay Howell, general manager of Devon & Cornwall SARCs, said the Exeter centre already had self-contained pods with a special air flow system which minimised the risk of trace evidence being transferred.
Forensic pods
The NHS advises that the sooner a victim has a forensic medical examination the better, as there is more chance of collecting evidence. MS Howell said as well as gathering evidence, the centres in Exeter, alongside its partners in Truro and Plymouth, also provided said the service was confidential and available to any adult or child who had experienced sexual harm, regardless of whether they reported the incident to police."We are independent of the police; we're a health service which can also offer forensic options," she said."For us, it's important to ensure people know that the forensic side is just a tiny part of the service. The biggest part is the therapeutic time we spend with them."The SARCs in Exeter, Truro and Plymouth are co-funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, NHS England and Devon and Cornwall Police.
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez praised the the work carried out at the SARCs amid a rise in sexual violence in the region."In Devon and Cornwall, we have seen a concerning rise in recorded sexual offences over the years. Since 2010, the number of these crimes has more than tripled," she said."While some of this increase can be attributed to greater reporting and awareness, the true picture remains unknown due to fear and stigma when deciding whether to report sexual violence, an uncertainty over justice and support."
