Henry Smith MP has welcomed today’s Government announcement that a rape support centre will be opening in Crawley. One of two new facilities in England.
 
The centre will offer victims access to expert advice, support and counselling, as well as practical help throughout the criminal justice system.
 
Henry said;
 
“I am pleased that the Government have announced Crawley will be home to a new centre to help women who have suffered horrific acts of sexual abuse. The facility will provide a range of expert advice, counselling and support.”
 
The centre in Crawley will have a budget of around £300,000 a year to offer much-needed specialist services to hundreds of victims of sexual crime in areas where previously none existed.
 
Specialists will work with female victims who have experienced rape or sexual violence at any point in their lives.
 
In addition to face to face counselling, there will also be support groups, female-only safe spaces and even access to counsellors through Skype.
 
Nicky Morgan MP, Minister for Women and Equalities, said;
 
“I want women to know that if they ever suffer the horrific ordeal of rape or sexual assault that they will be offered all of the expert advice and support they need to rebuild their lives and put the perpetrator behind bars.
 
“This government committed to open 15 new support centres across the country and I am proud to say that this announcement today means we have delivered on our promise.”
 
Yvonne Trainer, from the Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre, said;
 
“We cannot express how grateful we are to the Ministry of Justice for giving us the opportunity to open a new Rape Crisis Centre in Crawley. This will be the first centre in the West Sussex area and fills a massive gap of provision for women and girls who have suffered from sexual violence.”
 
For further information on this announcement, please visit www.gov.uk/government/news/two-new-rape-support-centres-to-help-victims-recover. For the Government’s consultation on strengthening the law on domestic abuse, including information on how to submit comments, please visit www.gov.uk/government/consultations/strengthening-the-law-on-domestic-abuse.

Notes

• This announcement means that the Government has met its commitment to open 15 new support facilities across the country since coming to power in 2010. The new centres are in addition to 84 established centres also receiving government funding through to 2015-2016.
• The Crawley centre will be managed by Croydon Rape Centre, which is a member of Rape Crisis England & Wales and Grantham will be run through the Survivors charity.