Rape charity counselling has “changed one client’s life”

Monday 20 April 2015

A charity formed in January to support and counsel rape and sexual assault survivors has had an immediate impact, according to its founder.

Sara McIntosh says that Jersey Action Against Rape has had an immediate impact since it was formed just months ago – and she has thrown her backing behind a new police initiative to give rape survivors more time to consider whether they want to press charges against their attackers.

Det Chief Inspector Alison Fossey said a few weeks ago that the police would set up a Sexual Assault Referral Centre would allow samples to be taken independently of the police and stored so that victims can take their time to make the decision about whether or not to make a criminal complaint.

At the moment, if a rape survivor does not go straight to the police to report the crime and be physically examined, then the opportunity to take forensic samples is lost, and a conviction becomes much more unlikely.

JAAR was set up by Cassidy McIntosh (27) who was raped by a family friend in 2012 – and they want to use April as an awareness month to build awareness about rape, about the consequences of rape and about the support that is available to rape survivors.

The independent and confidential service has welcomed the SARC development.

Sara said: “I think that it’s absolutely fantastic that we should have the SARC and I’m very supportive of the whole concept. I think that Alison is doing a fantastic job and it’s a very important job. It raises awareness and shows that we, as a society, are wanting to do something to sort out the problem and survivors of rape and sexual assault are being given as much help as we can give them.

“We’ve had calls just to say that people are really, really glad that we are here and that we have established the service, and that they think it’s wonderful.

“Even if something happened to them many years ago they might find that they don’t need us, but they like to know that we are there. People want to talk over the phone and come in for counseling. One client said it has changed her life which is obviously all that we want to hear, it’s wonderful. We did not expect such an immediate response, but we did get it.”

If you want to contact Jersey Action Against Rape in confidence for support or counselling you can call their dedicated helpline on 01534 482800.