New Centre For Sex Attack Victims To Open In Gloucestershire

Construction on a centre for victims of sexual assault in Gloucestershire will soon begin. It is hoped the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) will improve conviction rates for rape in the county.

The centre will offer male and female sexual assault victims 24-hour access to medical services alongside counselling and police investigation.

In 2004, Gloucestershire police had one of the lowest rates of conviction for reported rapes in the country.

That year, 116 rapes were reported to Gloucestershire police but only one person was convicted of rape.

The new centre will also house Gloucestershire Sexual Health Services, where people can get advice on contraception and pregnancy, as well as HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

A ceremony to mark the start of construction was held yesterday on the site at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.