First Centre For Sex Crime Victims

Scotland’s first specialist care centre for victims of rape and sexual assault is to be opened in Glasgow.
The Assault, Rape, Counselling, Health (Arch) centre will bring together police, social work and health services 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 creation of this new unit, which will cost £1.67m, means that victims will no longer be taken to a police office for examination.
Between April 2004 and March 2005, Strathclyde Police casualty surgeons carried out some 386 forensic medical examinations. It is estimated Arch will carry out 250 examinations in the Greater Glasgow area in its first year of operation.
The need for this new facility was highlighted by the Glasgow Violence Against Women Partnership which comprises council and health chiefs, Rape Crisis and Women’s Aid, prosecutors and the police.