Support is there for all ages at specialist self-referral centre - The Worcester Observer

Support is there for all ages at specialist self-referral centre

Worcester Editorial 15th Jun, 2016 Updated: 19th Oct, 2016   0

“ANYONE of any age can be a victim of rape or sexual abuse and there is support available for everyone.”

That is the message Hannah Taylor, manager of The Glade Sexual Assault Referral Centre, wants heard loud and clear this World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15), writes Lorna Morris.

Mrs Taylor, the manager of the centre in Bransford said there is still a large gap in people aged over 50 coming to The Glade to access a forensic medical examination after rape and sexual assault.

In 2014 and 2015 across the West Mercia Police force area, which includes Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, there were 102 reported rapes and sexual assaults on men and women aged over 50, according to figures obtained from a Freedom of Information request made by The Glade to West Mercia Police.




She said: “Since we opened in November 2012, we have identified from our service figures that the majority of clients we have seen have been under 50-years-old.

“It is clear from our figures that we must ensure we reach out to everyone and identify where there are gaps in people coming forward.


“Rape is not limited to a specific age group and anyone at all can be a victim, unfortunately no one is exempt.”

Out of the 102 reported rapes and sexual assaults, 95 were current incidents which happened within a year of the report being made, with seven being recorded as historic.

The oldest female victim to report rape was 93, while the oldest male reporting rape, of which there were four in total, was aged 76.

The oldest female to report a recent sexual assault was 99 years old, while the oldest man was 74.

The Glade offers medical examinations to gather forensic evidence following a sexual assault, and can also help put in place more holistic support such as counselling for victims.

Mrs Taylor said: “There could be many reasons people over 50 often don’t come forward to access support.

“This may be due to a lack of awareness of services, it could be due to services being more widely advertised on digital platforms these days, differing beliefs and attitudes towards rape or it may be simply that people do not wish to come forward.

“Making that first step can be extremely difficult.

“Increasing awareness about the services that are available in the local area may encourage more people to come forward.

“Everyone has the right to speak out and access support.

“I believe it’s about making the service accessible to everyone and ensuring the appropriate signposting is in place.

“There will be many people who suffered abuse in their childhood and are now in their 50s, 60s, 70s and older and there is support available for everyone, don’t suffer in silence.

“It can be extremely difficult to speak out and it takes a lot of courage, but there are specialist agencies in the local area that can provide specialist counselling should people wish to access it.”

Detective Chief Inspector Alison Davies, who leads on rape and serious sexual assaults, said: “Anyone who comes forward to police to report sexual abuse will be listened to and supported irrespective of their age.

“It is understandable that many victims find it difficult to discuss the abuse they have suffered and approaching police can seem very daunting.

“I would like to reassure all victims that they will be offered specialist support and treated in a caring and sensitive manner should they choose to contact police.

“They will be offered guidance throughout and their wishes on how they want to progress will be understood and taken into consideration

“We have seen an increase in the number of people coming forward to report historic abuse which they have carried with them for years and these offences are taken just as seriously as current offences.

“If you have been a victim of sexual abuse you can make a report by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency.”

The Glade self-referral line is available to anyone living in the West Mercia area on 0808 178 2058.

For people who wish to discuss their options, report to police or access counselling, other local organisations such as Axis and West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre can provide this.

Details can be found on www.theglade.org.uk, alternatively people can contact the centre directly and they can assist with onward referrals.

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