Crimestoppers
Fearless - Our Youth Service
How are sexual violence cases managed?
Our East Midlands regional manager Lydia Patsalides describes her introduction to sexual violence case reporting in her area.
Towards the end of last year, I took on the sexual violence lead and since then I have tried to do what I can to educate myself around this subject in various ways, such as attending the Circles sexual violence conference at Askham Grange Prison, through the sexual violence campaign I did in Lincolnshire and then last week from the visit I made to Spring Lodge.
I met the Amanda, the manager of Spring Lodge during the course of the campaign I did earlier this year and she invited me to go and see what it is they actually do.
Spring Lodge is Lincolnshire's Sexual Assault Referral Centre and is the place that anyone, who reports sexual assault or rape to the police is taken for medical attention and for investigations to begin. It is also where people are referred to for any historical sexual abuse for emotional and practical support through the criminal justice system, a service called the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA).
In 2003, I worked with Lincolnshire Police and a part of my role was to compile the details of sexual abuse cases, including offender details, victims details and case details in to a database. I read over 8 years’ worth of abuse cases and visited some of the darkest areas of Lincolnshire's Police Stations in order to retrieve the information.
This led me to a child and sexual assault suite in Grantham. This was one of the most unhappiest places I have had to visit. The walls were peeling, the carpet was dark, dirty and dingy and the furniture was old and dusty. There was no light in the room and there was little equipment for children to play with or use as a distraction. The thought that vulnerable people were interviewed in this room about something so horrible, was really upsetting.
So, with this in mind, I was a little anxious about my visit Spring Lodge.
I could not have been more surprised by what I found. The first place in the building I went to see was the Rainbow Suite, specifically for children and young people. It was bright, colourful, comfortable and had plenty of toys, teddy's and drawing materials for anyone who wanted to use them.
The room was designed by a young girl , who had been the victim of childhood sexual abuse by a family member. She was interviewed in a room that in her words was boring and not very colourful and felt need making nicer for other children like herself and as a part of her closure and moving forward, she asked if she could design the room for other people to use. This led to another interview room, the Serenity Suite, also being designed for adults.
After being shown these rooms I saw the interview suite used by the Police for all sexual and sensitive video interviews. It consists of a comfortable and calm interview room and a pleasant waiting area with comfortable furniture and places where waiting family members can make themselves food and get hot drinks.
Finally, I was taken through to the forensic investigation and examination rooms. A much more stark contrast to what I had been shown, naturally clinical. This area led to a garden where survivors are able to take a break from what they are dealing with.
These rooms brought back the reality of where I was visiting. A place for people to be examined and to disclose the horrendous things that have happened to them by friends or family members or strangers and the amazing work that the staff do in Spring Lodge who will work with them and support them from report to court.
A sobering day, a humbling experience and a great insight to some of the most amazing work the people we work alongside do.
I met the Amanda, the manager of Spring Lodge during the course of the campaign I did earlier this year and she invited me to go and see what it is they actually do.
Spring Lodge
Spring Lodge is Lincolnshire's Sexual Assault Referral Centre and is the place that anyone, who reports sexual assault or rape to the police is taken for medical attention and for investigations to begin. It is also where people are referred to for any historical sexual abuse for emotional and practical support through the criminal justice system, a service called the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA).
In 2003, I worked with Lincolnshire Police and a part of my role was to compile the details of sexual abuse cases, including offender details, victims details and case details in to a database. I read over 8 years’ worth of abuse cases and visited some of the darkest areas of Lincolnshire's Police Stations in order to retrieve the information.
This led me to a child and sexual assault suite in Grantham. This was one of the most unhappiest places I have had to visit. The walls were peeling, the carpet was dark, dirty and dingy and the furniture was old and dusty. There was no light in the room and there was little equipment for children to play with or use as a distraction. The thought that vulnerable people were interviewed in this room about something so horrible, was really upsetting.
So, with this in mind, I was a little anxious about my visit Spring Lodge.
I could not have been more surprised by what I found. The first place in the building I went to see was the Rainbow Suite, specifically for children and young people. It was bright, colourful, comfortable and had plenty of toys, teddy's and drawing materials for anyone who wanted to use them.
The room was designed by a young girl , who had been the victim of childhood sexual abuse by a family member. She was interviewed in a room that in her words was boring and not very colourful and felt need making nicer for other children like herself and as a part of her closure and moving forward, she asked if she could design the room for other people to use. This led to another interview room, the Serenity Suite, also being designed for adults.
Rainbow Suite
After being shown these rooms I saw the interview suite used by the Police for all sexual and sensitive video interviews. It consists of a comfortable and calm interview room and a pleasant waiting area with comfortable furniture and places where waiting family members can make themselves food and get hot drinks.
Finally, I was taken through to the forensic investigation and examination rooms. A much more stark contrast to what I had been shown, naturally clinical. This area led to a garden where survivors are able to take a break from what they are dealing with.
These rooms brought back the reality of where I was visiting. A place for people to be examined and to disclose the horrendous things that have happened to them by friends or family members or strangers and the amazing work that the staff do in Spring Lodge who will work with them and support them from report to court.
A sobering day, a humbling experience and a great insight to some of the most amazing work the people we work alongside do.
