Sexual Assault Referral Centre

[2112]

From the NPM
 

Facility expected to cost £3.3m

Building work on the Isle of Man's dedicated Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) is now underway.

The facility is expected to cost £3.3 million pounds and is due to open in May next year.

The Department of Home Affairs says it will transform the way victims of sexual assault access medical care, treatment, wellbeing and forensic services.

Once operational, the centre will be equipped to respond to calls 24/7 and be run by medical professionals, with victims able to self-refer themselves to the service without involvement from the Police.
 

Unless I am mistaken, isn’t there a Sexual Assault Referral Centre called The Crookall Centre based at the former doctors surgery on Kensington Road? For the record I have no problem with Crookall Centre, what does concern me is a new building which is estimated to cost £3.3million, but in this economic climate will most likely go well overbudget and schedule. Thats even with the Capital Projects Unit Board being involved. Does the island need such a dedicated facility of this magnitude, unlike a large town in the UK, where sexual assaults are committed by many people on a daily basis.
 

Where it is being built could have been used for very much needed social housing or FTB housing, or even more staff accommodation for Nobles, to try to attract higher quality medical professionals. 

[Shake me up Judy]

It'll be nearer 5 million and this is the government with no money. Allinson must have signed it off though. I wonder why ?

We didn't need a 'dedicated' site when government own properties that could easily have been repurposed. But that's not the way is it. Who's got the contract ? I can't see the need for such a specialist facility costing millions in the first place. 

[lfc84]

if you have your head in the sand, you wont see the need for the facility

[2112]

29 minutes ago, lfc84 said:

if you have your head in the sand, you wont see the need for the facility

I haven’t said there is no need for this facility, and in reality this facility already exists in Central Douglas, utilising a former GP practice. In true IOM style, it’s not up to standards etc, hence their decision to splurge £££ms on an all singing and dancing 24/7 centre. Maybe the old hospital site on Westmorland Road could have been utilised, at a greater saving to the taxpayers? 

Edited May 9 by 2112

[Knoxville]

2 hours ago, lfc84 said:

if you have your head in the sand, you wont see the need for the facility

Tell you can't read, without telling me you can't read.............

[WTF]

10 minutes ago, Knoxville said:

Tell you can't read, without telling me you can't read.............

have you missed a 'me' out?

[Two-lane]

What are the requirements for a Sexual Assault Referral Centre? An Internet search did not provide anything definitive. The word "Referral" implies that the real business happens elsewhere.

Is this merely an office with a telephone, manned by someone who has been trained to handle this kind of event?

 

[Roger Mexico]

2 minutes ago, Two-lane said:

What are the requirements for a Sexual Assault Referral Centre? An Internet search did not provide anything definitive. The word "Referral" implies that the real business happens elsewhere.

Is this merely an office with a telephone, manned by someone who has been trained to handle this kind of event?

According to this:

SARCs (sexual assault referral centres) are specialist medical and forensic services for anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted. They are designed to be comfortable and multi-functional, providing private space for interviews and forensic examinations, and some may also offer sexual health and counselling services. Their services are free of charge and provided to women, men, young people and children.

So more than just an office, but not really requiring anything specialist such as labs for example (samples will be sent to specialist laboratories).

[2bees]

It’s absolutely necessary. This will not only enable the victims of sexual assaults to be… it’s hard to put into words, but imagine you’re the victim, “all of that” has just happened to you, the last thing you’d want or need is someone (another stranger) taking swabs and poking around in places that have already been violated - this facility would mean they could be treated with dignity and in a courteous way, a far cry from the olden days where a policeman and nurse would go for a bit more “stranger prodding”. This may also deter fake claims and hopefully save young ones from being falsely accused of sexual assaults. 

Sexual assault is not OK but too many people think it is, people tolerate inappropriate behaviours and people do wholly inappropriate sexual things to both strangers and friends. I really hope having this facility will encourage more victims to come forward and prevent false accusations. 
 

[Anthony Ingham]

It is sad that we need this, but good that we are building it.

The stupidity displayed on this topic is disturbing.

[2112]

1 hour ago, 2bees said:

It’s absolutely necessary. This will not only enable the victims of sexual assaults to be… it’s hard to put into words, but imagine you’re the victim, “all of that” has just happened to you, the last thing you’d want or need is someone (another stranger) taking swabs and poking around in places that have already been violated - this facility would mean they could be treated with dignity and in a courteous way, a far cry from the olden days where a policeman and nurse would go for a bit more “stranger prodding”. This may also deter fake claims and hopefully save young ones from being falsely accused of sexual assaults. 

Sexual assault is not OK but too many people think it is, people tolerate inappropriate behaviours and people do wholly inappropriate sexual things to both strangers and friends. I really hope having this facility will encourage more victims to come forward and prevent false accusations. 
 

Totally agree.

It’s not the subject matter I have concerns about, it’s the fact that the island already has a SARC, newly created within the last two years based at Crookall Centre in Kensington Road, Douglas.

Why does it require a newly built and probably larger building be constructed, especially in these financially challenging times, and that’s not to mention the costs of manning the facilities. The usual well versed phrase used by IOMG is ‘not up to standards’. I thought Crookall Centre had money spent on it when it opened in 2021., presumably it is up to standards? 
 

[Holte End]

21 hours ago, lfc84 said:

if you have your head in the sand, you wont see the need for the facility

I think the hospital has enough buildings  to facilitate a sexual assault referral centre, without spending £3million plus extra's, so about £4million by the time it is finished. This will be 2% extra on our taxes seen and spent.   

[Dirty Buggane]

So how big is the team to staff the facility, is it 24/7 52 weeks. Are the police increasing there numbers to cover staff seconded to the unit. Will it have its own ceo and deputy and admin. Have nothing against the idea but will we be looking at £4 to 5 million a year costs, when in all probability it can be covered by a dedicated suite at the hospital calling on professionals as and when needed.  

[Anthony Ingham]

35 minutes ago, Holte End said:

I think the hospital has enough buildings  to facilitate a sexual assault referral centre, without spending £3million plus extra's, so about £4million by the time it is finished. This will be 2% extra on our taxes seen and spent.   

And meet all the relevant guidelines for gaining forensic evidence for submission in a trial?

[Passing Time]

22 minutes ago, Anthony Ingham said:

And meet all the relevant guidelines for gaining forensic evidence for submission in a trial?

Make your mind up, you were all for the new facility being built yesterday