§ Vera BairdTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether it is his policy that sexual assault referral centres should be at hospitals; [146765]
(2)what allocations have been made from the Home Office funds for sexual assault referral centres in 2003; and to whom; [146773]
(3)what plans he has to increase the numbers of sexual assault referral centres; when he intends further such centres to be in operation; and where they will be located; [146774]
(4)whether it is his policy that health trusts should be involved in the (a) establishment and (b) running of sexual assault referral centres in co-operation with the police; [146766]
(5) when the results of the evaluation of the sexual assault referral centres (a) Star, (b) Reach anda1 (c) St. Mary's will be published; [146775]
(6) what the current estimate is of (a) the cost of establishing a sexual assault referral centre if a new build is necessary and (b) the annual cost of running a sexual assault referral centre; [146770]
(7) what directive has been issued to police forces on the role they ought to play in establishing sexual assault referral centres in areas where there are none; [146771]
(8) how he intends that further sexual assault referral centres should be financed for (a) capital and (b) revenue costs; [146772]
(9) when he expects to publish the evaluation of the Forensic Nurse project at St. Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre. [146777]
§ Paul GogginsThe Government are currently considering ways in which further support may be provided to victims of sexual crime. This objective may be achieved through the use of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs); rape crisis and other counselling and support services; national or local telephone helplines; or some combination of these. We are looking at all the options as part of the work being undertaken to implement the national strategy for victims and witnesses, which was published in July 2003.
An Inter Departmental Ministerial Group (IDMG) on Sexual Offending has been set up. It comprises representation from the Home Office, Department of Health, Department for Education and Skills, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Constitutional Affairs, Law Officers' Department, Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The group will focus on: prevention, protection, and support; taking forward the implementation of the Sexual Offences Act; and promoting an effective, joined up approach to tackling sexual offending. The Inter Departmental Ministerial Group will consider provisions for victims of sexual offences, including issues around the development and funding of SARCs throughout England and Wales.
236WThe Home Office has funded research into three existing SARCs: St. Mary's, Reach and Star. The interventions, which were funded from July 2000 to the end of March 2003, included: training a forensic nurse to conduct forensic examinations; an intervention to help reduce attrition; and an intervention to support young victims of sexual violence. An independent evaluation of these interventions and of the overall services of the three SARCs has now been completed and the findings are due to be published in late spring 2004.
No directive has been issued to the police or health trusts on the role that they ought to play in the establishment of SARCs. The research findings and the Inter Departmental Ministerial Group will inform future policy on the development and funding of SARCs, including the development of good practice guidance. This will draw on the experience of existing SARC managers and victims.
Many existing SARCs are based at hospitals and the police have worked closely with health trusts in their establishment. However, different models of SARC will be best suited to different areas and the needs of the local community. Funding of existing SARCs has been negotiated and agreed locally, in most cases between the police and local health authority. The cost of establishing and running a SARC will vary according to the model.
The Home Office recently made funds available to support the development of SARCs. In September all police authorities were invited to bid for this funding. Grant offers are being finalised and an announcement will follow shortly.