A new sexual health assault referral centre has been unveiled aimed at helping victims and boosting police investigations.
The Angel Centre provides victims of rape and serious sexual violence with a place where they can seek support. The building is staffed by nurses, counsellors, forensic examiners and doctors.
Victims can be referred to the centre, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through the police or their GP. Those who do not wish to report the crime, can refer themselves to the centre.
The new facility, which has been operating since August, is located in the Northumbria Police area. It replaces two sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) which were previously operating in the force area.
The Angel Centre has been developed with input from people who have previously accessed SARCs, as well as colleagues from across the health and emergency service.
In the last year, there have been 570 SARC referrals in the Northumbria force area. Service use has increased by 27% since April 2022.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said the centre has been designed specifically for purpose and is located at the centre of the force area.
She said victims will be provided with emotional support, a crisis worker and onward referrals. There is also space designed to take the forensic evidence needed if they want to press charges and go to court.
Kim said: "The system too often fails victims of rape and sexual violence and we need to make it as easy as possible for people to get the support they need to recover, to get the support they need emotionally and, crucially, to get the evidence that they need to get prosecutions.
"We need to be catching people who are perpetrating these crimes and an environment like this - that makes that process as easy as possible for victims, puts their needs right at the centre - is crucial.
"We've made real investment from my office, along with NHS England, to make sure that not only can victims get the best possible mental and emotional support, and the care that they need, but they can also get the forensic evidence that they might require if they choose to go through the court process.
"So it is a brilliant place and I'm really confident that we'll see more victims come here as a result."
Kate Davies, National Sexual Abuse and Assault Lead for NHS England, said the two former venues were unable to fit with the current needs of users and had "grew out of themselves". She said people want to attend a place which is not too public and is easy to access.
When asked about some people having to travel to the centre, she said: "There's an aim to get the best we possibly can rather than get a couple of venues aren't the best you can possibly have.
"There are positives and negatives of it. Obviously I would like people to be as close as possible.
"People don't often go to the closest sexual assault referral centre. I have spoken to people from the North East who have chosen to go over the border to another county.
"Whilst I hope that no one will ever have to use a SARC, for people who have experienced recent or non-recent sexual assault and abuse or rape, these services are here for them.
"We have had very positive feed back so far."
The healthcare at the service is provided through Mountain Healthcare. The private healthcare company, commissioned by Northumbria Police and the NHS, is the largest provider of sexual assault referral centres in the UK.
Keeley Roe, Associate Head of Healthcare, Mountain Healthcare, said: "The opening of The Angel SARC is not merely opening doors but an avenue for sexual assault victims in the North East to receive the free, quality and confidential care and support that they deserve.
"Sexual assault referral centres have changed and are changing. What we needed to do was move with the needs of those being impacted. This is purpose built for this."
Assistant Chief Constable Alastair Simpson, of Northumbria Police, said the ability for victims to refer themselves to the centre is an important aspect.
He said: "The Angel Centre is a fantastic facility which first and foremost provides specialist, tailored support to survivors.
"We recognise that it's not right for everyone to report it to the police. The Angel Centre can be accessed through the website and through a GP, you can self refer.
"Victims can then get all of the support they need, making sure they get on the path to recovery. At the time they can get a forensic exam, should they decide to report it in the future."
There are currently two other sexual assault referral centres operating in Durham and Teesside.
Kim added: "I think it is one of those places that most people will never have to think about, and that's a good thing, we want people to never have to think about coming here.
"But if you do need to come here, we need to assure you that this will be a smooth process, that it's a nice place to be, with wonderful staff who are all here to put you, as the victim, right at the centre of this experience."
