Plans for more SARCs welcomed in Portsmouth
Portsmouth today welcomed government plans to pump £1.6m into creating ten new sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) across Britain.
The south’s first SARC – The Treetops Centre at Cosham – will celebrate its second birthday next month.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith today pledged the extra funding to help other areas increase the support offered to victims of sexual assault and rape.
Mary Bridgman, who manages Treetops, which serves Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said the £1.6m would be money well spent.
She said: “Since we opened on November 22, 2006, we’ve seen around 750 people. The number of referrals has increased over that two-year period, with an 11% rise in the first six months of this year compared to last year.
I feel that our clients have benefited enormously from this centre and I welcome the fact that more other people across Britain could benefit from similar resources soon.
Treetops provides a professional client focused service, with on site crisis intervention, specialist forensic medical examinations and referral to appropriate medical and specialist counselling services.
Some 77% of clients have received forensic examinations, 93% have been female and 11% self referrals.
Portsmouth City Council’s Early Intervention Project provides advocacy and support and works closely with the Crystal Unit, a new initiative dedicated to the investigation rape and serious sexual assaults in the area. The unit is the first scheme of its kind outside London.
A young person’s worker is also available working from the centre to work with victims aged 13 to 18.
Treetops has been made possible by a partnership between the Portsmouth City Teaching Primary Care Trust, Hampshire police, the council, with support from the Rape Crisis services across Hampshire.
In 2007, it won two awards for partnership working – one from the Strategic Health Authority and one from the Portsmouth Operational Command Unit of the police.
Treetops has referrals from the police and self referrals. If someone is undecided about whether to report a rape or serious sexual offence to the police, they have the option of contacting the SARC direct for support from the Early Intervention Project team and the young person’s worker. Forensic samples can be taken to secure evidence in the event they do decide to report to the police in the future.
Partnership working is integral to a service which is available to the police 24/7.
The government eventually aims to double the number of SARCs from 19 to 38.
Issued by Mark Wingham on (023) 9283 5070.
New court to crack down on violence in the home
The News
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
THROUGH these doors are set to pass a stream of people charged with hurting those they are supposed to love most.
This is the entrance to Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court, which is now home to a specialist court dedicated to prosecuting men and women who are guilty of domestic violence.
As part of the new court, all Portsmouth magistrates have had training about handling domestic violence cases.
The court – known as a cluster court because the cases are all put before the same magistrates one after another – is run by a specially-trained legal advisor and cases prosecuted by two specially-trained crown lawyers.
The aim is to deal with abusers swiftly and justly.
Deputy district crown prosecutor Victoria Cook said: ‘It’s about securing more convictions and supporting people through the system.
‘If there are repeat offenders they will be coming back before the same court.
‘Specially-trained staff are alert to all the sentencing guidelines and the problems victims face giving evidence and they can support and encourage them through the court process. They can tell them about special measures – such as giving evidence through a video link and not in the court room.
‘All the organisations, like police and the Early Intervention Project in Portsmouth, can come to court on one particular day and make sure support is available.’
Sergeant Jerry Cracknell, from Portsmouth’s domestic abuse unit, said that by successfully prosecuting more people the police hoped it would encourage more victims to come forward.
It is estimated that only about one in 10 victims currently report domestic violence.
Sgt Cracknell said: ‘We’re hoping to achieve more convictions. A lot of the problem is people are unwilling or unable to attend court because of fear of reprisals. At the court people are aware of the problems and issues.’
Police recorded 2,603 domestic incidents in Portsmouth between April and November 2006, the latest figures available.
In the Central policing area, covering Havant, Waterlooville, Hayling Island, Gosport and Fareham as well as Winchester, there were 3,256 and across Hampshire there were 13,496.
But that is just a fraction of the assaults that happen behind closed doors every day.
The News spoke to one women who stayed silent for 30 years.
The 62-year-old grandmother, from Fratton, left her husband a few years ago after suffering three decades of terrifying violence.
He thought nothing of lashing out with his fists and legs – dishing out black eyes and broken ribs.
She said: ‘This new system is good because you’re going to have people who can spell out what’s going to happen. You want somebody that’s going to be with you all the way.
‘I think the only way to deal with the problem is to prosecute. If a stranger had come up to me in the street and done the things my husband did to me there is no doubt he would be serving a lengthy prison sentence.
‘By dealing with them in court you’re saying this is not acceptable. It first happened within three weeks of being
married in 1975. Then it wouldn’t have entered my head to go to the police. I expected them to say “domestic violence, love, it happens to all of us”.
‘Now there are so many people that can help.’
EARLY INTERVENTION PROJECT
The Early Intervention Project run by Portsmouth City Council helps women living in a violent and abusive relationship.
It is based at the recently opened Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Cosham.
Violence is only one form of domestic abuse. Sexual assault is common but women and men can also be subjected to emotional abuse and financial abuse with their access to money taken away and being isolated from their family.
To contact the Early Intervention Project call (023) 9221 0352.
A domestic violence helpline is also run by Southern Focus Trust on 0800 587 6500.
And in the event of an emergency call the police on 999.
Case gives others the confidence to speak
The News
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
VICTIM support groups today urged women who have been raped or sexually assaulted to speak out in the light of Christopher Miller’s conviction.
Linda Gaymer, a senior project worker for the early intervention project, based at the Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Portsmouth, praised Miller’s victims for speaking out.
She said: ‘I think the women who have spoken out in this case should be congratulated for having the courage to do what they have done.
‘We have certainly spoken to people who have not reported what has happened to them because they fear they will not be believed. This case should give people like that more confidence in the system.’
SARC provides a caring environment for victims of sexual abuse and victims of domestic violence while encouraging them to bring their attackers to justice.
Female GPs from across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have signed up to help out as forensic experts at the Sexual Assault Referral Centre.
The three victims in this case have shown incredible bravery and strength in coming forward and making sure that he will not be able to do the same again.
The unit, at the Treetops Centre, in Northern Road, Cosham, sees medics, staff, counsellors and outreach workers together to help women and men from across the county.
Detective Constable Pete Bambury, from Southsea CID, said: ‘Christopher Miller is a sexual predator who gets young women drunk and then sexually assaults them. It is clear he doesn’t see anything wrong with that.
‘The three victims in this case have shown incredible bravery and strength in coming forward and making sure that he will not be able to do the same again.’
The call comes despite low conviction rates across Hampshire and many victims being too scared to report what has happened to them.
In a recent investigation The News revealed that just one per cent of rapes result in a conviction in Hampshire.
Specialist Sex Attack Victim Care Honoured
The News
Saturday, December 8, 2007
By Clare Semke Health reporter
HUNDREDS of sex attack victims have received more specialist support and care thanks to a unique centre in Portsmouth.
The Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Northern Road, Cosham – the only service of its kind in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – has helped 370 people since opening a year ago.
And specialist help offered by staff has led to 35 suspects being charged with sex offences. A further 72 cases are still being investigated.
Now its work has been recognised with a special award.
The centre is a one-stop shop providing on-site crisis intervention, forensic medical examinations, and direction to appropriate medical services and counselling 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Funded by Portsmouth City Teaching Primary Care Trust and Hampshire Constabulary, and supported by Portsmouth City Council’s Early Intervention Team, Treetops has brought medics, staff, counsellors and outreach workers together under the same roof for the first time to help victims of rape or sexual abuse.
The centre was singled out by regional health bosses to receive an award for partnership working – its third accolade this year.
Centre manager Mary Bridgman said: ‘The big difference is that people can self-refer. Before people had to go to the police, or go for counselling somewhere like a rape crisis centre or their GP. They now have more of a choice. This isn’t about conviction rates, it’s about making the experience better for victims.
‘It’s about explaining the options that are open for them and taking some of the anxiety away.
‘People who self-refer can still have a forensic examination carried out by specially-trained doctors, provided it’s within a certain time period.
‘Samples are safely stored so that if somebody should decide to report their attack to the police it can be used at a later date.’
Inspector Fiona Voller, Hampshire Constabulary’s sexual offence investigation training co-ordinator, said: ‘Treetops provides a professional, victim-focused service, with access to a wide range of support and advice. The fact that it is away from police premises and is staffed by professionals who are dedicated to care, but who are also forensically and evidentially aware, is a great asset.’