§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about which police forces have a victim examination suite in use and those which are planning to open victim examination suites within the next three years.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe Metropolitan police plan to introduce a number of victim examination suites consisting of a medical examination room, an interview room and shower facilities. The first such suite should open in Brentford shortly. In other police forces the examination of victims of rape and other sexual assaults is generally conducted in surgeon's rooms or in hospital.
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are being issued to chief constables on the creation of victim examination suites for the victims of rape and sexual assault.
§ Mr. Giles ShawHome Office circular 25/1983 containing general guidance on the treatment of rape victims was issued to chief officers of police in March 1983. Copies are in the Library. It recommended that medical examinations should take place in a proper clinical environment so as to reduce stress and produce an atmosphere of care and concern. The nature of the facilities which are required to meet this is a matter for692W individual police forces in consultation with police surgeons, taking account of the existing provisions which are locally available.