New 24-hour rape support centre opens today

Thursday 04 May 2017

Jersey’s new Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), which will provide a range of support for both children and adult victims of rape and sexual assault, is opening today on Route du Fort.

Named Dewberry House, the centre will be open 24-hours-a-day and will be the first point of contact for victims, whether they choose to report the assault to the Police or not.

Crisis support and forensic medical examinations will be accessible 24-hours-a-day at the SARC, as well as specialist staff trained in helping victims make informed decisions following a sexual assault. 

Dewberry House is also intended to provide a safe and private space for interviews and forensic examinations to take place. Medical samples will be stored within the SARC for two years, to enable victims to take the time to decide whether they want to report the assault, without fear of losing the evidence.  

A trained ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor) will also be available at the centre to help victims understand how the criminal justice process works and assist them in making an informed choice about whether to make a report to the Police.

Aftercare following a sexual assault will also be available with options including referrals to sexual health services and counselling support from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), adult mental health or voluntary organisations.

JAAR (Jersey Action against Rape) will be one of the organisations available to people coming in to the SARC. Its chairperson, Sara McIntosh, commented on the opening: "We are absolutely delighted to see the opening of the SARC and we are very proud to be associated. It is another very positive step taken in the right direction to help survivors. Hopefully, having the centre will encourage more people to come forward and at least seek help. Sometimes people are put off because they don't want to involve the Police and the beauty of the SARC is that it the Police is not necessarily involved."

"Being able to collect forensic evidence will hopefully help to increase prosecutions as well. It is very difficult initially for survivors to decide if they want to take it further as they are traumatised. This will give them the opportunity to seek justice if they change their minds."

Jersey Women's Refuge will also be involved within the SARC. As the centre opens, they will be running the helpline during out-of-hours, they will also provide help to any victim of sexual assault who is also a victim of domestic abuse. 

Deputy Kristina Moore, Minister for Home Affairs, said: “Rape and sexual assault are horrific crimes that can ruin lives and have a massive impact on individuals and on society. In opening the Island’s SARC we are taking a significant step forward in the support that’s available for victims. The SARC encourages a culture of multi-agency working that supports safeguarding and offers greater protection at the most vulnerable point of a person's life.”