Reporting Rape
Self Referrals
Herts Sunflower SARC (Sexual
Assault Referral Centre) provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated
forensic and aftercare service to men, women and young people
living in the Hertfordshire area, who have experienced rape or
sexual assault, whether this has happened recently or in the last
12 months.
Our centre comprises a team of experts with a wealth of knowledge
and experience in advising and supporting victims. This team
includes specially trained Independent Sexual Violence Advisors
(ISVAs), who will care for those who have been assaulted, liaising,
where appropriate with police and other agencies.
Service description: A service delivered in
partnership with Hertfordshire Constabulary and National Health
Service to provide immediate physical and on-going help and support
following a rape or sexual assault. The service provides an
efficient and effective care pathway for clients into the Sexual
Health Services, Rape Crisis, Victim Support and other partner
agencies.
Individuals can self refer by contacting the free phone
number:
0808 178 4448.
Victims who self refer will be spoken to by a trained
crisis worker who will provide all necessary advice and support.
The crisis worker will outline all available options to the victim
including the option to refer the incident to the Police.
The crisis worker will respect the wishes of the victim and
implement the procedures according to their wishes. This will
include cases where the victim is unsure of what action to take and
procedures are in place to secure potential forensic evidence
should the victim choose to report the assault to the Police at a
later time.
The Sunflower Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in
Hertfordshire has examination suites which have been developed to
ensure a standard level of care for use during medical examinations
of victims of rape and serious sexual assault.
Hertfordshire County Community Unit have recently launched an
anti-rape and sexual assault campaign called Operation Advisory.
Advisory is a proactive campaign reminding pub and club-goers to
take care of themselves and their friends on a night out and get
home safely.
It also sends out a strong message
to potential offenders around the consequences of committing a
sexual assault on someone.
Nobody asks to be sexually
assaulted or raped… There’s never any excuse. If there’s no
consent, it’s a crime.
For more information on the
campaign, please click HERE.
Useful Telephone Numbers
Sexual Assault Referral Centre
Helpline:
0808 178 4448
National Domestic Violence
Helpline:
0808 2000 247
Police (Non-Emergency Number):
101
In an Emergency, Always Dial:
999
Sunflower Sexual Assault Referral
Centre at Hemel Hempstead:
01442 270679
Free Legal Advice for Domestic
Violence Victims:
08709 220704
Rape Crisis Hertfordshire:
01707 276512
Rape Crisis Watford:
0845 3011165
Victim Support:
0845 30 30 900
Survivors UK (for men):
0845 122 1201
