Need for North Ayrshire rape crisis centre is highlighted

A RAPE crisis centre could be what North Ayrshire is missing – that was the finding of a special conference held in Irvine.

Organised by the North Ayrshire Violence Against Women Forum, the seminar was held at the Gailes Hotel to discuss the news that North Ayrshire has the fourth highest incidents in Strathclyde.

It was the fourth conference of its kind and the aim was to commission research to help them better understand why this was the case and identify gaps in provision.

The VAW Forum engaged Ann Rosengard Associates and last week’s seminar gave the 100 delegates the opportunity to consider the evidence of the study.

Sheena Campbell, of North Ayrshire Women’s Aid, opened the seminar and introduced key speakers from North Ayrshire Council’s Social Services, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Strathclyde Police.

The study was done by reviewing existing policy documents and guidance – an analysis of data and conducting interviews with professionals in the domestic abuse field and people who use the services.

The researchers found that increased reporting rates are influenced by a range of complex factors including greater confidence in the system for reporting domestic abuse; the success of pro-active policing and the use of bail conditions.

Not with standing the extent to which professional services were valued, a number of gaps were identified.

These included a rape crisis centre in North Ayrshire; therapeutic support for young people; support for both adult and young survivors of childhood sexual abuse, and services to address the behaviour of perpetrators of violence against women.