The Amethyst Centre is a flag ship Sexual Assault Referral Centre and is a joint venture between North Wales Police, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and voluntary organisations.
Tackling sexual crimes and protecting children are among top priorities of the centre which was first mooted following a report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate back in 2002.
Following years of hard work and significant investment in terms of both staffing and finance, the Amethyst Centre has become a reality. Working hand in hand with partner agencies from both statutory and voluntary organisations, it provides victims of serious sexual assault with specialist care and counselling. Police officers are also on hand to deal with the investigation.
The centre has excellent facilities for counselling and for any health treatments people need following such an assault and ensures we are able to provide victims with the best possible services available to them.
Background
The idea of a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) was sparked by a HMIC report in 2002 which looked at the police’s response into the investigation of rape. Initially, it was thought that the concept of a SARC would not work in North Wales due to the geography of the area covered by the force. The benefits of having such a centre however soon swayed opinions and saw discussions move on to looking at funding.
A £70,000 grant was obtained from the Home Office after a business case was submitted in around 2005 and following that a SARC steering group soon got off the ground involving various representatives from different organisations.
During the following months plans were put in place and several meetings were arranged with others to discuss how to move forward.
Plans were drawn out specifically to ensure that the building was both adult and child friendly and the location for the build was agreed upon. After months of work, officers from North Wales Police met with representatives from the Home Office, Welsh Assembly Government and with various agencies across North Wales.
The North Wales Police Authority (NWPA) invested a significant amount of money in the centre. Most of the £700,000 funding was sanctioned by the NWPA.
Hard work and commitment from North Wales Police and their partners from the outset has resulted in the SARC becoming a reality.
Today
Today, North Wales has a state of the art facility which offers specialist care for victims of sexual violence. It is one of only 29 such centres throughout England and Wales and is one of the very few centres that is not located within the grounds of a hospital.
The Amethyst Centre opened its doors in 2009. It has a full-time health service manager and a team of police officers who deal with victims throughout the investigation. The centre offers victims of sexual assault medical care and counselling.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the centre is seen as welcoming and a non threatening environment. The centre also assists in police investigations and the facilities at the centre enable the gathering of the most comprehensive forensic and video evidence.
North Wales Police, BetsiCadwaladr University Health Board, North Wales Police Authority, Crown Prosecution Service, NSPCC, RASA, (The Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre, North Wales) and ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor) work together to provide a first rate service to victims. At the centre, victims can receive medical care and counselling which is offered by statutory and voluntary sector organisations and is delivered through a multi agency approach.
Future
Crisis workers are currently in the process of being appointed. Once fully in place, the Amethyst Centre will become a fully operational Sexual Assault Referral Centre.
This will enable individuals who have become victims of sexual assault to refer themselves to the centre.
The appointment of the crisis workers will be the final piece in the jigsaw for the SARC which will become a place where all victims of sexual assault can be supported, provided with care and hopefully enable them to recover better from their ordeal.
