First Responders launch
14/06/2019
A first-of-its-kind project has already helped more than 200 victims of sexual abuse and rape in Essex get specialist support more quickly. The Synergy Essex First Responders (SFR) scheme is believed to be the only one in the country that gives victims access to support within one working day of reporting an offence to police.
The SFRs are a specially trained team able to provide initial support at the point someone reports a sexual offence to Essex Police. This includes emotional support, detailed information about the criminal justice process, and providing access to specialist rape and sexual abuse counselling and advocacy services.
The project is the result of partnership work between Essex Police and the Essex rape and sexual abuse partnership Synergy Essex, and is being supported by the Essex Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner. The pilot project started on January 21 and by the end of March had already helped 228 people, with more than 100 people going on to engage with services.
Detective Superintendent Jason Hendy, from Essex Police, said: “Despite our best efforts, before this project victims and survivors may have had to wait two weeks before being referred to specialist rape and sexual abuse support services, which is just too long. It takes a lot of courage to report these kinds of offences in the first place and they can have a massive psychological impact on the victim so it’s really important they’re able to get the support they need as quickly and as easily as possible. Victims of sexual offences have been through a traumatic experience and if they don’t get the right support it can leave them feeling isolated and unsure of what’s happening. This delay can also mean victims disengage from the process and, understandably, want to withdraw from the investigation. “I strongly support the work of Synergy Essex who are able to provide that support and give victims and survivors choices and better outcomes.”
The service is funded by a £136,110 grant from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner office to help the Essex rape and sexual abuse partnership, Synergy Essex, respond to the increase in demand and offer specialist support from the moment victims report the incident to police.
The grant is in addition to the £680,000 funding provided before the rise in reported incidents.
“Rape and sexual abuse are abhorrent crimes. I am committed to making specialist services available in a timely way to ensure that those in need of support receive an effective and consistent service. We know it can be daunting for victims and survivors to reach out for help and we need to ensure that when they do we make sure we provide them with the right support to cope and recover from the harm they have experienced. I am proud that by working with Essex Police and Synergy Essex we have improved access to support for victims and survivors of these offences.”
Reports of sexual offences have increased both in Essex and across the country. Between January 2017 and December 2018 Synergy Essex received 10,967 calls to their central phone line.
From April 2018 to December 2018 the partnership supported 2,107 new callers to the service. 663 of those had referred themselves, 82 had been referred by family, friends or a third party, and 455 had been referred directly from Criminal Justice Agencies.
Rebekah Brant, from Synergy Essex, said: “Synergy Essex First Responders offer support to victims and witnesses at an earlier stage when they report to the police. “Our extensive experience of working with victims and survivors, has shown that minimising the time it takes to get support has a direct positive impact on recovery and prevention of long-term physical, emotional, economic and criminal justice outcomes. Already we’ve had really positive feedback with victims and survivors telling us that having this support really early on has helped them understand the criminal justice process and what to expect in terms of the investigation. This has helped them engage with the police and continue to support the investigation.”
Before the project victims and survivors who were unable to support an investigation were not referred to specialist counselling support but that has now changed, meaning all victims have access to specialist support services. Rebekah added: “We’re seeing reports of sexual offences increasing which indicates people are more confident in reporting them but means specialist rape crisis services are stretched to capacity. This initiative goes some way to increase the capacity here in Essex to meet that demand. The impact of these crimes can be devastating and navigating the criminal justice system can be a challenge at this time, so we need to make sure we do all we can to make this process as easy as possible. The Essex PFCC is one of the trail blazers for the Ministry of Justice to show how partnership work, when it effectively includes specialist rape crisis services, increases support to victims who contact Essex police”.
You can get this support by calling Synergy Essex on 0300 003 7777, emailing support@synergyessex.org.uk, or visiting www.synergyessex.org.uk.
Pictured:
Back row, left to right: Emma Ferns, independent sexual violence advocate for Synergy Essex, Detective Superintendent Jason Hendy, Jane Gardener Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner;
Front row, left to right: Rebekah Brant from the South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre, Helen Parr from the Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse in Essex.
