Victims of sex crimesto get more support

Plans to make funding available for the county’s first sexual assault referral centre (SARC) were rubber-stamped by North Yorkshire Police on Friday.

Services at an existing forensic medical facility at Bishopthorpe, York, will be developed in a bid to eventually secure SARC status.

Det Supt Lewis Raw, North Yorkshire Police’s head of major and specialist crime, described the development as a major step forward in the care for victims of rape and sexual assault.

He said: “We are very pleased that funding has been made available to provide more support and services for victims of one of the most traumatic and distressing of crimes.

“Our medical suite in Bishopthorpe, York, has recently been upgraded with the help of a Home Office grant, and the force has also developed a pool of specially trained officers. These improvements, together with the approval to develop and expand our existing services, means we are on track to achieving our ultimate aim of providing SARC services.

“Over the next six to 12 months, work will be under way with our partners to develop these plans, which include the recruitment of independent sexual violence advisors, a SARC manager and crisis workers.”

Services from neighbouring counties will also be commissioned for victims that have difficulty accessing the York facility.

The total cost of the scheme has been estimated at £196,525. However, part of this cost is funded already through existing services provided by North Yorkshire Police, which means the additional cost to the force will amount to £126,775.

North Yorkshire is one of the few areas in the UK not to have SARC, which offers counselling, medical care and forensic examinations around the clock. The move will bring the county in line with national guidelines.