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Plans for a £5 million bespoke centre for child and adult sexual assault victims, which the island's Head of Crime hopes will increase historically low conviction rates, have been submitted by the government.
The new centre, which would be built on the corner of Bagatelle Road and Bagatelle Lane in St. Saviour, will replace the Dewberry House Sexual Assault Referral Centre which opened in 2017 as a recommendation of the Jersey Care Inquiry.
The purpose-built facility would enable victims to get the care and support they need in the aftermath of an attack.
Crucially, the centre would house a range of services which would ensure that the victim would have to go through the ordeal of giving their account of the assault only once.
The proposed building will provide bring together a range of help and support in one location, rather than victims having to go to various locations for different services.
It will have:
The centre will be home to the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Jersey Victims First, and Jersey Domestic and Sexual Abuse Support.
It also has separate therapy gardens for adults and children.
Home Affairs Minister Helen Miles said: "The relocation of Dewberry House provides Jersey with a bespoke facility which will ensure victims are at the heart of Jersey’s criminal-justice system and allows them to access proper support in one safe space and to help their journey of healing."
Detective Superintendent Alison Fossey, head of crime for the States police, said: "A new and improved facility is definitely going to help.
"For us, the partnership between police and the other services is very important, because that’s the way we keep victims engaged going forward and hopefully we will see more cases successful at court."
Pictured: Detective Superintendent Alison Fossey.
The centre is designed as a "route to the criminal justice process", she added.
"There is the option to report to the police if you want, and in that process, to be supported by independent sexual abuse advisers."
Earlier this year, information released following a request under the Freedom of Information Law revealed that during 2021 and 2022, there were no rape convictions in the island.
Since 2018, 3,167 ‘violence against women and girls’ offences have been reported to the police, but only 24% have resulted in a conviction.
Det Supt Fossey said the new centre was an "integral part" of the push to improve convictions.
The centre will also give children their own space.
Laura Osmand, service manager for Dewberry House, added: "I believe children should have their own space away from adults, which is accommodated for in the new site. One of our top priorities is bringing all the agencies under one service to be able to put a child at the heart of that process."
"Children often at the moment have to navigate multiple different services and processionals in different locations when they need to talk about what has happened to them. But children need one safe space to be able to talk about their trauma, and to talk to the right professionals to get the right help at the right time."
The new site has been designed on the leading Barnahus model – a Scandinavian word for 'children's house' – where the centre is child-friendly, and law enforcement, criminal justice support and advocacy, child protective services, and medical and mental health workers co-operate and assess together the situation of the child.
The choice of site follows consultation with support services, community groups, professionals and has the full support of the Adult Survivors Network. It has been carefully chosen to ensure accessibility and privacy.
The funding, which is expected to cost £5 million, has come from Criminal Offences Confiscation Fund which Deputy Miles said was "restorative for victims."
If plans are approved, the project team hope that the centre will be open by May 2025.
Information leaflets will be provided to nearby residents of the site and the project team are holding an information evening for St Saviour parishioners at the Parish Hall in July, with a pop-up open day for victims, interested parties, professionals and general members of the public to be announced at a future date.
Sarah Hamon, Service Manager for Jersey Domestic Abuse Support, said: "Parishioners need to understand the impact on them as residents isn't going to be huge, but the impact for victims on the Island overall will be huge."
"The main thing, apart for us not re-traumatising people by having to tell their story to several different people in several different locations, not all of which are purpose-built and trauma informed, but being under one roof will make professionals more efficient, which in turn will enable a smoother journey for victims."
The current centre was opened in 2017 as a recommendation of the Jersey Care Inquiry, after it was recognised that there was no alternative for Islanders who have suffered sexual assault other than police station or the hospital – as is the case in the UK.
It has so far supported over 700 sexual offence victims, both adults and children, with crisis and more long-term care – and provides forensic examination facilities, interview rooms, and spaces where victims can appear at court via video link.
But that original SARC has been deemed no longer fit for purpose and without the capacity for the Island's needs.
Laura Osmand said: "Whilst we were grateful to have Dewberry House as a place for victims, it's no longer meeting needs in terms of disabled access and parking. The number of clients who have used this service also shows that it is desperately needed on the Island. We have also had huge investment from the government in terms of posts and staff members who can support victims of crime."
Previously, those with needs may have been turned to the hospital or find other pathways, but the new site would provide an "inclusive environment," she said.
"We have consulted with adults, children, and survivors. To ask children what child-friendly criminal justice looks like has been really valuable. It has been empowering for them to be part of that journey."
See below for a look at 3D visualisations of the new centre...
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