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Support for victims of sexual crime

The Police and Crime Commissioner commissions a number of vital local services across the policing area to ensure essential support is available for victims of sexual crime. Victims have the right to support at an any stage, no matter how long ago the incident occurred and whether they have reported to the police.  

 

Independent Sexual Violence Advocate Service

Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) specialise in supporting people who have suffered any unwanted sexual experience, regardless of when the incident happened, or characteristics such as gender or sexuality.

ISVAs provide support and information through the criminal justice process:

  • Information on the criminal justice process – providing support before, during and after any criminal and civil court proceedings
  • Giving information on health services and attending appointments if desired.
  • Helping the victim to think about their safety and what can be done to improve it.
  • Listening and providing emotional support.

A recent successful bid by the Police and Crime Commissioner to the Ministry of Justice is providing additional funding to add much needed capacity to the ISVA service.

How to access ISVAs:

Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton – Yellow Door provide emotional and therapeutic support to children, young people, adults and families affected by the psychological impact of rape and sexual abuse.  Yellow Door provide ISVA support across Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton.

The Hampton Trust provide ISVA support for the Isle of Wight.

 

Frankie Worker Service

This service provides a dedicated counselling service for victims of child sexual abuse from the age of 0 to 18 years. The Frankie Workers service is inspired by Frankie, an adult survivor of child sexual abuse who is now in her early 20s. Frankie says she was not offered trauma support and was eventually sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Frankie believes that had her trauma been dealt with, she would have coped and recovered better.

How to access Frankie Workers:

The Frankie Worker service is available to children aged 0-18 years.

The Hampshire Frankie Workers are provided by No Limits, and they work closely with Hampshire County Council’s children’s services. Referrals to the Frankie Workers are made through Hampshire County Council’s Willow Team.

The Isle of Wight Frankie Workers is provided by children’s charity Barnardo’s and accept self-referrals. Please contact early.help@iow.gov.uk for a referral form.

The Frankie Worker Service in Portsmouth is provided in partnership with Portsmouth City Council and Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling Service (PARCS).

 

Sexual Crime Therapeutic Support

Therapeutic support (counselling) for victims of sexual crime is available across the Hampshire Constabulary policing area including trauma informed counselling for victims and survivors of sexual crime including rape, sexual abuse, assault or violence, of any age and gender whose experience occurred at any time of their lives. Individuals may access counselling support from two providers, YOU Trust (Solent) and Community First (RASAC).

How to access the therapeutic support:

Isle of Wight, South East and South West Hampshire – The You Trust offers specialist facilitated peer support groups and specialist one to one counselling for victims across the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Central and North Hampshire – Community First – START offers specialist facilitated peer support groups and specialist one to one counselling in Hampshire for victims of sexual abuse.

 

Victim Care Service

The Victim Care Service provides confidential emotional and practical support for anyone impacted by any crime and includes specialist sexual crime case workers who are able to provide an enhanced support.

You can contact the service directly on 0808 1781641, by emailing hub.hiow@victimsupport.org.uk or via the Victim Care Service website.

Additional contacts

Aurora New Dawn

Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling Service,

Stop Domestic Abuse

Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)