New centre for sex crime victims

It is hoped the new service will encourage reporting

Scotland's first specialist care centre for victims of rape and sexual assault is to be launched in Glasgow.

The Assault, Rape, Counselling, Health (Arch) centre will bring police, social work and health services together under one roof in a three year pilot project.

It is hoped Arch will improve reporting and conviction rates while addressing the needs of sex attack victims.

The new unit, costing £1.67m, will mean victims will no longer be taken to a police office for an examination.

Between April 2004 and March 2005, Strathclyde Police casualty surgeons carried out 386 forensic medical examinations across the force area.

It is hoped the centre will improve levels of reporting and attrition rates as well as significantly improving the quality of service Willie Rae Strathclyde Police Chief Constable

It is estimated Arch will carry out 250 examinations in the Greater Glasgow area in its first year.

The need for a new facility was identified by the Glasgow Violence Against Women Partnership.

It is made up of council and health bosses, Rape Crisis and Women's Aid, prosecutors and police.

Councillor Irene Graham, chair of the partnership, said: "This multi-agency project was developed in recognition of the low rates of reporting and the even lower conviction rates in rape cases.

"It was developed after extensive research and we believe it will provide a safe and secure environment.

"The new centre will deal with the complex needs of rape victims.

"These include the need for reliable forensic evidence, the need to deal with the emotional impact of the rape and the need to deal with the health consequences."

Beyond the pilot

Arch will follow the example set in England and Wales, where 14 specialist centres exist.

Cllr Graham added: "We are confident victims will be better served, a greater number of rape cases brought to trial and a greater number of prosecutions will result."

The Scottish Executive has approved funding of £1.67m for the three-year pilot - on the agreement funding is in place beyond the pilot.

At a meeting on Thursday, councillors on Strathclyde Joint Police Board agreed to fund the initiative beyond the pilot should it prove successful.

Cllr Graham described the decision as "the final piece of the jigsaw".

The total needed was £526,063.

Strathclyde Police will meet 55% of this with the remainder coming from Greater Glasgow NHS Board and Glasgow City Council.

New facility

Chief Constable Willie Rae told councillors: "It is hoped the creation of the centre will improve levels of reporting and attrition rates for these types of crimes as well as significantly improving the quality of service made available to victims of sexual crimes."

Police said the new facility would save them £78,000 in forensic medical examination fees.

The centre will be based within the Sandyford Initiative in Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow.

It will provide a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week service to men, women and children aged 12 to 16 years old.

The project is at an advanced stage and will be up and running as soon as funding is received.