Location of SARCs
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London
| Avon and Somerset | Greater
Manchester | Derbyshire | Lancashire | Leicestershire
| Northumberland | West
Midlands | Wiltshire
London
The Establishment of 'The Haven' in June 2000 (a sexual
assault referral centre) based at Kings College Hospital,
Camberwell provides victims of rape in South London
with a standard of care never seen before in London.
Highly acclaimed, this partnership initiative combines
the best possible initial case management by skilled
officers with the best available victim care from the
Health Service.
The service is comprehensive with on-going treatment,
advice, counselling and follow up specialist and forensically
trained doctors and nurses. It aims to provide a one-stop-shop
service to victims of rape.
The new Havens website www.thehavens.org.uk
provides further information.
The two new Havens in Paddington and Whitechapel have
now opened. If you live in London and do not wish to
report your rape or sexual assault to Police, you can
contact any of 'The Havens' directly:
Haven - Camberwell
King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS
Telephone number - 020 7346 1599 9am - 5pm Monday to
Friday, or 020 7737 4000 at all other times.
Haven - Paddington
St Marys Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY
Telephone number - 020 7886 1101 9am - 5pm Monday to
Friday, or 020 7886 6666 at all other times.
Haven - Whitechapel
The Royal London Hospital, 9 Brady Street, London E1
5BD
Telephone number - 020 7247 4787 at any time.
The service is confidential.
Find out more about the Havens at Camberwell, Paddington
and Whitechapel on the Havens
website.
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Avon and Somerset
The Milne Centre for Sexual Health and The Cabot Suite
Bristol Royal Infirmary, Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol
BS2 8HW
The Milne Centre currently provides a range of services
to men and women who have been sexually assaulted including:
• Support and counselling
• Information and screening for sexually transmitted
infections
• Emergency contraception and pregnancy advice
• Prophylactic antibiotics
• Option of anonymous or third party report to
police
• Option of having forensic samples taken by Milne
Centre & stored for later examination if client
wishes
• Help with accessing other agencies such as Victim
Support, Avon Sexual Abuse Centre.
Patients disclosing sexual assault on contacting the
clinic are fast-tracked and offered same day appointments
if they wish. Patients requesting a check-up without
disclosing assault would be offered a booked appointment
or option to attend an Emergency Access walk-in session.
Contact information:
General enquiries: 0117 928 3010
Appointments: 0117 928 2580
Health Advisors: 0117 928 3011
Clinic times and other information can be found on their
website.
The Cabot Suite
The Cabot suite opened in March 2001 as a result of
a joint initiative between the Milne Centre, Avon and
Somerset Constabulary and Forensic Police Examiners.
The aim was to provide a comprehensive range of services
for victims of sexual assault on one site. The suite
is a self contained area within the Milne Centre which
is available to the police 24 hours a day. Arrangements
for medical after care such as screening for infection
and counselling can be made by the police at the first
presentation.
Patients presenting to the Milne Centre are offered
a range of options regarding forensic examination and
police referral. Where a client does not initially want
to involve the police they can be offered the option
of a forensic examination by a Milne Centre doctor with
release of their samples to the police at a later date
if they wish. There is also the
option to pass details of the assault to the police
anonymously.
Contacts for the Service:
Dr T Crowley, Associate Specialist in Genitourinary
Medicine.
Ms C Jacobs, Clinic Manager, Milne Centre.
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Derbyshire
Millfield House Sexual Assault Referral Centre
Millfield House SARC is located in Codnor which is
a central point in the county. The Centre is managed
on a Mon to Fri 9-5 basis by Derbyshire Rape Crisis
staff.
The Centre has two full forensic facilities; one on
the ground floor which is fully equipped to cater for
clients with disabilities and a further suite on the
second floor which can be used to examine able bodied
people.
There are also facilities where victims can rest for
a few hours prior to giving any statement, including
an en suite bathroom.
The Centre has an anonymous referral service in which
victims of rape and sexual abuse can access forensic
examinations, support and on going counselling without
police intervention. This type of referral will be collated
as a statistic only but will have massive advantages
to the victim.
Victims are effectively sign posted to other relevant
services such as GUM clinics, drug/alcohol treatment
Millfield House
Contact Details: PO Box 142
Derby DE1 2HF
01773 573840/1
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Greater Manchester
St. Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre
St. Mary's Centre is available to women and men that
live in or were assaulted in Greater Manchester.
You can access the Centre either as a self-referral
or via Greater Manchester Police. Anyone who reports
to Greater Manchester Police because s/he has been sexually
assaulted will be offered the Centre's services.
If you do not wish to report the matter to the police,
you can refer yourself. The police will not be contacted
without your consent. A forensic medical examination
will be conducted by a female doctor or nurse. (If you
wish, the examination can be conducted by a male doctor).
A crisis worker will also be available to support you.
Any samples taken will be kept in cold storage should
you wish to make a report at a later date.
If you want to report the matter to the police, contact
your local station and they will arrange to bring you
to the Centre. With your consent, a forensic medical
examination will be conducted by a female doctor or
nurse. (If you wish, the examination can be conducted
by a male doctor). A crisis worker will also be available
to support you. If the police are involved with your
complaint, then any medical records can and will be
seen by both the defence and prosecution lawyers, should
the case go to court.
If you do not want an examination you can still access
the Centre for counselling. This is available even if
the assault took place a long time ago.
Counselling is also available to partners and relatives
of survivors of sexual assault.
The forensic examination service is available 24 hours
a day. Counselling appointments must be booked in advance
during office hours (9 to 5).
More details on the services offered by St. Mary's
Centre.
St. Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre
St. Mary's Hospital
Hathersage Road
Manchester, M13 0JH
Tel: 0161 276 6515
Website: www.stmaryscentre.org
Email: stmarys.sarc@cmmc.nhs.uk
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Lancashire
The SAFE Centre
The Lancashire SAFE (Sexual Assault Forensic Examination)
Centre provides forensic examinations, counselling and
comprehensive support services for women, men and children
of all ages who make a complaint of rape or sexual assault.
The Centre is the country's first purpose-built centre
combining forensic and medical care for complainants
of rape and sexual assault and opened at Royal Preston
Hospital in July 2002.
The Centre offers services to all individuals of Lancashire
and is a joint initiative between the Royal Preston
Hospital and Lancashire Constabulary.
How can you access this service?
• Via the Police (call 999 or contact your nearest
police station)
• As a self referral
• Via your GP/local hospital
• Via any other appropriate agency.
If you wish the police to be involved they will invite
you to attend the Centre for medical examination.
If you do not want to contact the police, you can call
the Centre on the above number and speak to a Crisis
worker any time of the day or night.
If you wish to be referred via another source, (e.g.
A&E, GUM, GP, Victim Support or any voluntary agency)
they can arrange for you to access our service.
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What Services are available?
Forensic Medical Examination:
This takes place with your consent, and an examiner
will look at all parts of your body but it will be done
in a sensitive and respectful way. Specimens*, such
as swabs or a urine/blood test may be taken at this
time.
*It is important that these be taken as soon as possible
after the event to ensure that relevant evidence is
not lost.
The Centre Crisis Worker or a friend/relative can stay
with you during the examination if you wish.
Counselling:
The Centre offers one to one counselling to individuals
and carers. You can telephone 01772 523949 Monday to
Friday, 0900hrs - 1700hrs, to make an appointment, (Out
of hours you can leave a message and contact telephone
number on the voice mail and a counsellor will return
your call as soon as possible).
This free service is also available to your partner,
other family members and carers. They would bee seen
by a different counsellor and the information would
be kept completely separate and confidential.
Advice on:
• Pregnancy - If this is a concern following
rape, the examiner can provide/ prescribe medication
during your examination
• Sexually transmitted infections - Further to
your examination the examiner will offer advice and
can refer you to your local GUM clinic
• Local Support Agencies available, especially
if you live outside the area we cover
• Any other issues relating to sexual assault
and rape.
Support and assistance:
• Through criminal proceedings. We can explain
the legal system to you and liaise with the police and
court on your behalf. We can also put you in touch with
the Witness Support Service (part of Victim Support)
at the court building.
• With assistance re Criminal Injuries compensation
claims. You may be able to claim for criminal injuries
compensation. We can explain this system to you and
help you fill in the form, or we can put you in touch
with your local Victim Support or Citizens Advice Bureau
who also offer this service.
A member of the team will be available day or night
by calling our telephone support and information line
- 01772 523344. If we cannot speak with you straight
away, we will ring you back as soon as possible.
Contact details:
Lancashire SAFE Centre,
Royal Preston Hospital,
Sharoe Green Lane,
Fulwood, Preston PR2 9HT
Tel: 01772 523344
Website: www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/SAFE_Centre/index.shtml
Email: safe@lthtr.nhs.uk
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Leicestershire
Juniper Lodge Sexual Assault Response Centre
Juniper Lodge opened in May 1999 to provide multi-agency
support to male and female survivors of rape and sexual
assault in Leicestershire. The service offers an appropriate
environment for examination for forensic evidence, statement
taking and support work, whether or not clients wish
police involvement. Telephone support, face-to-face
counselling, information from specially trained police
officers or a medical examination is offered to all
clients. The Lodge is a dedicated centre that is fully
furnished and decorated in a comfortable and non-threatening
manner. It is located within the Leicester General Hospital
Grounds in a convenient but discreet location. The Lodge
is easily accessible by public transport and by car.
Juniper Lodge
Lodge One,
Leicestershire General Hospital,
Gwendolin Road,
Leicester, LE5 4PW
Tel & Fax: 0116 273 5461
24hr Helpline: 0116 273 3330
Email: juniperlodge@ukonline.co.uk
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Northumberland
The Reach Centre
R.E.A.C.H (Rape, Examination, Advice, Counselling,
Help) opened two centres in 1991, one in Sunderland
and one in Newcastle, providing services for the whole
of the Northumberland and Tyne & Wear areas. This
is a crisis intervention service, providing free, confidential,
forensic medical examinations and / or short-term counselling
and support for adults regardless of whether they wish
to report to the police.
R.E.A.C.H. has two dedicated centres; The Ellis Fraser
Centre in Sunderland and The Rhona Cross Centre in Newcastle.
They are designed to provide a fully equipped medical
examination suite, interview facilities and quiet rooms
for counselling. A trained, experienced gender appropriate
doctor can be available to carry out forensic examinations,
if necessary, and can be contacted to do this, whether
or not the police have been informed. Specially trained
police officers can be contacted for information and
advice. This then gives people time to make an informed
choice about whether or not to make a formal complaint
without fear of losing evidence.
R.E.A.C.H. strives to make its service accessible to
as many people as possible.
For example, R.E.A.C.H. has access to a group of interpreters
for clients who do not use English as their first language
and a minicom has been installed at both centres. Both
centres are accessible to people using wheelchairs or
other mobility aids.
A telephone call is all that is needed to make an appointment,
and this can be done by the woman or man themselves,
by a friend, GP or anyone else on their behalf.
Ellis Fraser Centre in Sunderland: 0191 212 1551
Rhona Cross Centre in Newcastle: 0191 565 3725
Website: www.reachcentre.org.uk
Email: info@reachcentre.org.uk
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West Midlands
The Walsall Rowan Centre, Walsall
The centre is open to men and women and covers the
whole of the Walsall borough with views to expand the
area of service.
Men and women can access the centre by referrals from
other agencies, via West Midlands Police and by self-referral.
The Walsall Rowan Centre is run on a daily basis by
CRISIS POINT a counselling organisation,We provide a
24 hour emergency sexual assault/rape line and counselling
for any victim of sexual assault. This service is a
combined initiative between Health, Police And CRISIS
POINT.
The Walsall Rowan Centre can offer victims of a Sexual
Crime : Forensic Medical Examinations/ in a special
medical suite with showers Police Reporting - in interview
rooms Counselling - in private rooms Fast track system
into clinic for S TI / pregnancy screening Support Work
- 24 hour service.
Contact details:
2 Ida Road
Walsall
West Midlands
WS2 9SR Office
open hours 8.30 - 5.30 with answer machine 01922 644
329
24 Hour Emergency Line 0800 73 111 62.
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Wiltshire
The Swindon Sanctuary A Sexual Assault Referral Centre
for Wiltshire and surrounding area.
The services offered by The Swindon Sanctuary are for
ALL victims of sexual assault no matter what the gender
of the victim and no matter what their sexual orientation.
The services offered by The Swindon Sanctuary are completely
free. Victims of sexual assault are offered a range
of contraceptive and sexual health advice.
The Sanctuary (01793 709512) 24 hour unattended line
for Sanctuary that gives advice and guidance about how
to access the Swindon Sanctuaryfacilities
Access to The Sanctuary is only currently arranged
through contacting Wiltshire Police. An appointment
at The Sanctuary is then usually arranged within an
hour.
Contact Wiltshire Constabulary on Swindon (01793) 528111
and ask to speak in confidence to a police officer about
sexual assault.
Contact details:
The Swindon Sanctuary,
Taw Hill Medical Practice,
Queen Elizabeth Drive,
Swindon, SN25 1WL
Tel: 01793 709512
Fax: 01793 709513
Open overnight 7pm - 7am Mon - Sat & throughout
the weekend, (after 1pm Saturday).
Website: www.swindonsanctuary.com
Email: info@swindonsanctuary.co.uk
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