Cheshire Police To Set Up Care Centre For Rape Victims

A new purpose-built centre is to be set up at Leighton Hospital to care for victims of rape and serious sex attacks.

Chairman of the Police Authority, Peter Nurse, announced; “We have given the go ahead to a centre at Leighton Hospital in Crewe where victims of rape and serious sexual assault, including children, can receive the very best medical attention and aftercare, such as counselling and specialist advice.”

Mr Nurse added: “By selling off some of the out-dated facilities and working with our partners in health, we will be able to re-invest the money in a purpose-built facility with on-tap medical care and support.

“We hope this will reverse the trend in declining conviction rates for rape and victims will feel more confident in coming forwards to report offences.

“Leighton Hospital has excellent access to Accident & Emergency and sexual health facilities and meets with Home Office guidance. Transport and accessibility will be a key priority during the design stage.”

“We listen to the public’s views and they tell us that they want to see policing services improve, it is the role of the Authority to find cost effective ways of doing this” added Mr Nurse.

Key partners have expressed strong support for a sexual assault referral centre within Cheshire with the four Cheshire Primary Care Trusts agreeing in principle to contribute a share of the ongoing costs.