First-class centre to support victims of sexual violence opens in North East

A first-class facility where victims of sexual assault and abuse can access help has opened in the North East.

The Angel Centre is set to become one of the leading sites in the country and is available for all victims and survivors to receive specialised medical, practical and emotional support whether the incident is historic or recent.

The opening of this new Sexual Assault Referral Centre comes at a time where more victims are coming forward. In the Northumbria area alone, service use of SARCs has increased by 27%.

Kim McGuinness, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "Sexual violence is something far too many people, particularly women but men as well, experience. It's a very difficult crime to deal with personally and too often the system fails people .

"And so what we're trying to do is build a system that supports the victim or survivor through the process so that they can cope and recover and get the emotional support they need. Or, if they so wish, they can also choose to report to the police where they will be listened to, believed and taken seriously and hopefully increase the number of positive outcomes they get through courts."

People can self-refer to the centre if they want to avoid going to the police and down the criminal justice route. A forensic examination is offered if there is evidence to be gathered, even if they don't want to prosecute. Samples can be stored up to two years in case a survivor changes their mind.

Keeley Roe, Associate Head of Healthcare, Mountain Healthcare, said: "Choice is really important- choice and empowerment throughout the whole journey.

"When you've gone through something traumatic with sexual violence that choice has been taken away from you, you haven't consented to something. We're here to empower our patients to make those choices."

Patient experience is at the heart of the centre. Open 24/7, it hopes to be a safe space to encourage people to seek the support they need after experiencing sexual violence.

Kate Davies CBE, NHS England’s National Director of Health and Justice, Armed Forces and Sexual Assault Services Commissioning, said: "Until you're a victim of rape or sexual assault the centre is probably somewhere you didn't know existed. It's really important we have Sexual Assault Referral Centres across the country as local as possible and to be there when people need them.

"We're really chuffed that we've got the new Angel Centre here in Newcastle. There's been a lot of thought and a lot of care, a lot of negotiation and consultation from service users and clinicians, nurses and the local community. The reason it's local is because, unfortunately, there isn't a part of England where this facility isn't needed."