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See other news storiesNew funding to help victims of sexual violence
28 September 2007
Grants totalling £650,000 will be dedicated to helping victims.
The new funding will be use to open six new sexual assault referral centres (SARCs), and to expand the services offered at existing centres.
These centres offer complete assistance to victims of rape and serious sexual assault, including medical care, psychological counselling, and legal help.
The new centres
The six new SARCs will open in:
- Plymouth
- Gloucester
- Liverpool
- Cheshire
- Hull
- Rotherham
When they are up and running, it will bring the number of centres operating in England and Wales to 36.
Helping victims get justice
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the investment indicated the government's commitment to supporting victims of sexual violence 'through every stage of the criminal justice process'.
'The centres we are funding ensure that victims' needs and safety are the top priority for all the agencies involved, so that the victims of sexual violence can access the services they need, and get the justice they deserve,' she said.
Bernie Ryan, head of the National SARC steering group, said the funding will help 'improve victim care, and increase the reporting of sexual violence.'
