MP Bob Seely is examining whether victims of sexual assault on the Isle of Wight are being supported properly.
As it stands, the Isle of Wight does not have a dedicated Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) – somewhere victims can be seen, and evidence gathered following a sexual assault. That means victims have to travel on a ferry to the mainland while preserving forensic evidence on their bodies until they can be seen.
“Victims of sexual assaults – almost always women – are having to travel on a ferry whilst often in a distressed state, sometimes in public,” Bob said. “It’s made worse because victims are advised not to wash, eat or drink to preserve forensic evidence, making an extremely difficult experience even more distressing.”
The issue is complex because there are not enough attacks on the Island to justify a Sexual Assault Referral Centre. These centres have to be highly sterilised and specialised to ensure that any DNA evidence of sexual assault is admissible in court. There are only 40 centres nationwide, which are supported by specially trained staff.
“It is clear that lower standards for evidence would not be acceptable. We would never get convictions in a court of law for Island women. But I worry that some women may choose not to co-operate in bringing their attackers to justice because of the process that they need to go through and the added hurdles that Islanders need to go through, and it is important that women who are victims of sexual assault are properly supported.”
The ferry firms have recently made some provision for victims to travel in a police vehicle, rather than in public ferry lounges where possible, but that is at the discretion of the ship’s captain, and is not automatic practice.
Bob said he was investigating whether the prosecution rate for sexual assaults on the Island are at a national average or lower.
“If they are on a par with other areas – and if it is clear that Island women are not losing out – then we need to make sure that the experience of going to the mainland is as comfortable for sexual assault victims as it can be.
“However, if there is clear evidence that access to justice is being damaged because of the Island’s status as an island, then we need to find a way to bring a SARC to the Island. It’s important for both victims’ dignity and access to justice.”
Bob’s work on this issue is ongoing and he is currently talking to the NHS, ICB, Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner on the issue.
