New centre supporting victims of sex assaults

FOR victims of any sexual assault, the process of having evidence collected from your body and describing what happened can be as traumatising as the attack itself.

For this reason, many women, and some men, go no further than informing police – or their doctor, care worker or hospital staff – of the assault.

Even those who take the brave step of being examined and reliving the incident for the record, another swathe chose to give up when told they will appear at trial to face their attacker – and will probably face being called a liar throughout by defence barristers.

In June the city's top cop, Chief Supt Jim Webster, admitted the detection rate – the percentage of reported offences solved – for sexual offences was just 13 percent, well below the target of 30 per cent.

However, efforts by both police and their partner agencies, including local charities, aim to buck that trend.

Twelve's Company, set up in the wake of the horrific sex attacks by notorious predatory paedophile William Goad, recently relocated to the historic Millfields and has made use of a Home Office grant to create one of the UK's handful of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).

Martine Cotter, chief executive of Twelve's Company, said the one-stop location will provide specialist medical and aftercare services from the moment of crisis, through the criminal justice system and beyond.

The aim of the charity was to work alongside the police and the Plymouth Community Safety Partnership to improve the care provided to victims of rape and sexual assault in not just Plymouth, but also West Devon, Caradon and South Hams.

The ground floor “Garden Suite” houses state-of-the-art forensic facilities, open to police and non-police referrals and – from Spring next year – self referrals.

Martine said the eventual aim will be that a victim of sexual assault can attend the SARC, be forensically examined and have any incriminating DNA, fibres, tissue and hair stored for a number of months, allowing them the time to recover from the ordeal and make a decision as to whether or not they want to call police.

Martine said: “In the past the CPS might have said 'well, it's been a month, there's no forensic evidence left, it's just your word against his'.”

Another improvement in the pipeline is to replace the need for a specialist police officer – Sexual Offence Liaison Officers (SOLO) – at the forensic examination.

Crisis workers who have health backgrounds such nurses from A & E, genitourinary and domestic violence workers, will be trained to SOLO standards, allowing the police to withdraw and instead focus entirely on the investigation, rather than “bagging and tagging” evidence alongside the doctor carrying out the intimate and often distressing forensic examination.

Martine said: “We did a lot of research, looking at best practice from others and in every area we've tried to make improvements.”

Every detail has been thought through. In the adjacent shower and toilet room, where victims can clean up following the examination, there is a small bowl of cosmetics and toiletries, a bathrobe and proper spare clothes.

Martine said: “In the past a woman would be handed a paper outfit – perhaps old jogging clothes and one-size paper knickers. This gives them back a little bit of dignity.”

The “waiting room” is clean, homely even, with comfortable leather chairs, soft lights and tea-making facilities. Yet this room, like the bathroom and examination room, will be deep cleaned and forensically intact, complete with an air-filtration system to preserve all forensic material.

The examination room appears formulaic – with medical equipment, a padded table and screens – yet even here there is thought.

Martine said: “We have no pictures on the walls, which are a uniform white colour. We saw some centres with pictures everywhere – even one on the ceiling. We wanted nothing that would then trigger a memory at a later date.”

Along a corridor there is an office fro either a doctor, crisis worker or police officer along with refrigerated storage for DNA and forensic items. The police will also be able to replenish their “early evidence kits” which all patrol cars must carry.

Martine said: “It'll save officers time having to go back to the station to replace the kit.”

Unlike police stations or hospitals, no other staff or members of the public will be in that part of the building, allowing victims the confidence and security they need.

Upstairs and through an entirely different entrance, are the main offices of Twelve's Company and its counselling rooms – each with soundproofed doors.

The grand Edwardian building is also home to Plymouth's ISVA – Independent Sexual Violence Advisor, who is specially trained and independent of any statutory agency.

Martine said: “The ISVA – Carol Senior – supports the victims throughout the investigation and criminal justice process. They give the victim confidence, hold their hand, liaise with police, even help out with their employer if needed.”

As a third stage, Twelve's Company helps with the psychological effects.

Martine said: “It really is a one-stop shop in terms of short, medium and long term help. We can offer the victim practical help, therapeutic help and emotional help.

“The Home Office's long-term plan is to have a SARC in each major city. The next closest one to us is Bristol.

“While we are the lead agency, we couldn't have done it without our partners – the police, health and the Plymouth Community Safety Partnership. With this centre Plymouth will be ahead of the field in the South West.”

Supt Andy Bickley of Plymouth police welcomed the opening of the SARC.

He said: “No one should underestimate the impact, trauma and distress caused to the victims of sexual offences.

“It is a top priority for the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary and Community Safety Partnerships.

“We need to look beyond the headline figures if we are to achieve real improvements in our performance. We need to look at the quality of what we do at all stages of our investigation, from the first report through to a conclusion.

“The SARC provides a real opportunity to improve the initial services, facilities and environment in which we support victims of sexual offences.

“Building trust, confidence and being sensitive to the needs of each person is key to delivering an effective investigation and outcome.”