SAFE Centre
Contact number: 01772 523344
The Lancashire SAFE (Sexual Assault Forensic Examination) Centre provides forensic examinations, advice and comprehensive support services for women, men and children of all ages who make a complaint of rape or sexual assault.
The Centre is the country's first purpose-built centre combining forensic and medical care for complainants of rape and sexual assault and opened at Royal Preston Hospital in July 2002.
The Centre offers services to all individuals of Lancashire and is a joint initiative between the Royal Preston Hospital and Lancashire Constabulary.
Centre Staff include:
Clinical Director, Dr Susan Lewis
Centre Manager, Kate Robertshaw
Centre Administrator, Danielle Longdon
Child & Young Person Advocate (CYPA), Sarifa Kabir
Independant Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA), Marie Anderson
Team of Centre Crisis Workers
Team of Sexual Offence Examiners
The SAFE Centre works in partnership with Lancashire Constabulary. The service is contracted to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals.
- Relevant Leaflets/Documents/Links
- Contact the Safe centre
The SAFE Centre offers medical examination, advice and support to women, men and children who have experienced sexual assault or rape.
How can you access this service?Via the Police (call 999 or contact your nearest police station)
As a self referral (16yrs and over only)
Via your GP/local hospital
Via any other appropriate agency
If you wish the police to be involved they will invite you to attend the Centre for medical examination if necessary.
If you do not want to contact the police, you can call the Centre on the above number and speak to a Crisis worker any time of the day or night.
If you wish to be referred via another source, (e.g. A&E, GUM, GP, Victim Support or any voluntary agency) they can arrange for you to access our service.
What Services are available?
Forensic Medical Examination:This takes place with your consent, and an examiner will look at all parts of your body but it will be done in a sensitive and respectful way. Specimens*, such as swabs or a urine/blood test may be taken at this time.
*It is important that these be taken as soon as possible after the event to ensure that relevant evidence is not lost.
The Centre Crisis Worker or a friend/relative can stay with you during the examination if you wish.The examiner will also provide preventative treatment where necessary for HIV and Hepatitis B, including a referral to your local GUM clinic or GP.
Advice on:
Pregnancy - If this is a concern following rape, the examiner can provide/prescribe medication during your examination.
Sexually transmitted infections - Further to your examination the examiner will offer advice and can refer you to your local GUM clinic.
Local Support Agencies available, such as counselling services. We can also give details of services outside the area we cover.
Any other issues relating to sexual assault and rape
Support and assistance:
Through criminal proceedings.
We can explain the legal system to you and liaise with the police and court on your behalf. We can also put you in touch with the Witness Support Service (part of Victim Support) at the court building.Criminal Injuries compensation claims.
You may be able to claim for criminal injuries compensation. We can explain this system to you and help you fill in the form, or we can put you in touch with your local Victim Support or Citizens Advice Bureau who also offer this service.A member of the team will be available day or night by calling our telephone support and information line - 01772 523344. If we cannot speak with you straight away, we will ring you back as soon as possible.
- SAFE Centre What you can do
Get Support From Other People
Some rape victims feel that if they avoid talking about the assault, they will be able to forget about what happened to them. Most survivors who try this approach eventually realize that they need to deal with the assault. Their unresolved feelings and fears hold them back from enjoying their lives and participating fully in relationships. Talking about the assault can help relieve some of the control it has over you and help you begin the process of recovery. We recommend that victims seek professional counselling as soon as possible to begin the healing process. Therapy provides a safe, private place to deal with your feelings and concerns. It also can be helpful to talk about your reactions with friends and family members who are supportive and understanding.
You can contact the centre anytime for advice on what support is available in your area. We can sign post you to counselling services and support services such as Victim Support, Rape Crisis and The Survivors Trust.
We also have an ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor) and CYPA (Child and Young Persons Advocate) to provide support throughout the police and court process.
- SAFE Centre What to do if you are raped
If your health is at risk call the emergency services on 999 and if you are able, try to go a safe place.
If your health is not at risk and you want to report the crime, notify the police immediately. Reporting the crime can help to ensure your safety and the safety of other potential victims.
If you do not want to report the offence to the police, but wish to be seen by an examiner you can do this if you are 16 years and over. However we cannot ensure absolute confidentiality if we consider there is an ongoing risk to the public or you or members of your family are at further risk. The examiner will document any findings and collect any evidence. If you would like to attend for a self referral examination please ring 01772 523344. We regret we are unable to accommodate visits without a pre-arranged appointment.
Call a friend, a family member, or someone else you trust and ask her or him to stay with you.
Preserve all physical evidence of the assault. Do not shower, bathe, douche, or brush your teeth. Save all of the clothing you were wearing at the time of the assault. Place each item of clothing in a separate paper bag. Do not use plastic bags. Do not disturb anything in the area where the assault occurred.
If you contact the police, they will contact the SAFE centre for advice on whether an examination is necessary. The purpose of an examination is primarily to check you are ok and secondly to collect forensic samples. Even if you think that you do not have any physical injuries, you should still have a forensic medical examination and discuss with the examiner the risk of exposure to sexually transmitted infections and the possibility of pregnancy resulting from the sexual assault.
If you suspect that you may have been given a rape drug, inform the police/examiner and they will ask you to provide a sample of urine. Rape drugs, such as Rohypnol and GHB, are more likely to be detected in urine than in blood.
Write down as much as you can remember about the circumstances of the assault, including a description of the assailant.
If you want information about legal issues, medical care, or other concerns related to the assault, you can contact the SAFE Centre on 01772 523344 where a member of staff will be available 24/7, 7 days a week.
- Safe Centre Reaction
The psychological trauma caused by a sexual assault can be severe and long-lasting. Because people react in very different ways to stress, it is not possible to predict exactly how you will feel. It may be helpful, however, for you to know some of the most common responses of sexual assault victims.
Shock and disbelief
"I feel numb. I can't believe this happened to me."
"I feel disconnected from other people and from my life."
Initially, most sexual assault victims react with shock and disbelief. You may feel numb and dazed, withdrawn and distant from other people. You may want to forget about what happened and avoid people or situations that remind you of the assault.
Remembering what happened and what it felt like
"Sometimes, I can't stop thinking about it."
"It comes back out of nowhere. I feel like it's happening all over again."
There may also be periods when you are preoccupied with thoughts and feelings about the assault. You may have unwanted memories or flashbacks and nightmares. When you think about what happened, you may re-experience some of the sensations and feelings you had during the assault, such as fear and powerlessness.Intense emotions
"I feel very sad, like I lost a part of me."
"I have this intense anger that I never felt before."
Many survivors experience intense emotions in the aftermath of a sexual assault. At times, you may feel angry. You may also feel anxious or depressed.
Physical symptoms
"I couldn't sleep through the night. I had trouble falling asleep and then I would wake up every night at the same time that the rape happened."
Some victims have physical symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, headaches, and stomach aches. You may find that it is very difficult to concentrate on routine activities. You may also experience changes in your sexuality, such as a loss of interest in sex or avoidance of sexual situations.
Feeling fearful
"Every night when I come home, I search my apartment. I look in the closets and under the bed to be sure no one is there."
"I can't go out alone at night because I am too scared."
Fears about personal safety are an almost universal response to a sexual assault. Survivors often become fearful in situations and places where they were never frightened before. In many sexual assault situations, the victim feels powerless and/or terrified of being killed or seriously harmed. Afterwards, you may continue to feel frightened and vulnerable for a while.
Self-blame and shame
"I felt like it was my fault, I trusted him...."
"I wondered if other men would think I was damaged goods."
Feelings of guilt and shame are also frequent reactions. Because of misconceptions about rape, victims may blame themselves, doubt their own judgment, or wonder if they were in some way responsible for the assault. Feelings of guilt and self-blame may be reinforced by the reactions of others, who, because of prevalent myths about rape, may blame the victim or criticize his or her behaviour. You may also feel ashamed. Some victims describe feeling dirty, devalued, and humiliated as a result of a sexual assault. Feelings of shame are sometimes a reaction to being forced by the assailant to participate in the crime.
Each person is different....it takes time to feel better
"One minute I feel okay and I think I can deal with what happened, and then the next minute I feel overwhelmed and weak. Sometimes it seems like it will never go away."
"It's been 8 months since my rape. It's still always there, but I don't think about it every day anymore."
Each person is unique. Although many victims experience similar reactions, there are still individual differences in how they respond to the trauma of rape. You may experience some or all of these symptoms. They may occur immediately, or you may have a delayed reaction weeks or months later. Certain situations, such as seeing the assailant or testifying in court, may intensify the symptoms or cause them to reoccur after a period during which you have been feeling better
