Easing the pain of rape

Oct 12 2007 by Samantha Parker, Ches Chron Country

Being sexually abused can be one of the most haunting experiences in a person’s life. The memory never goes away. SAMANTHA PARKER speaks to a woman who tries to ease the terrible pain.

Curled UP in a dark room lies a woman who can not bear to go outside. She is frightened of her own shadow and flinches every time anyone touches her.

This woman was a victim of rape.

Women and men who are victims of violent sexual abuse are being urged to seek help.

‘Please don’t suffer in silence’ is the message being put across by Detective Sergeant Simon Blackwell, of the Cheshire force’s major incident team.

While he says he would always urge victims to report the crime to the police, more than anything he wants them to get help.

He and his team fully support their new partner, Carol Ivison, an independent sexual violence adviser (ISVA), who offers a free counselling service funded by the Home Office.

Carol, who works at the Cheshire Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre, says: ‘We are independent to the police. If someone comes to me seeking help I would not push them to go to the police. That is their decision. Everyone who comes to me gets the same level of care, they have my mobile number and can call whenever they need to and I see them once a week, sometimes even more.

‘They can often be too terrified to go outside and I will be there for them on their first walk or shopping trip, gradually getting them to a point where they feel safe to be alone.

‘It takes ‘baby steps’ to get them back into society again.’

Carol covers the whole of Cheshire and is brought into a case by police as early as possible to offer support and to be there for the victim.

She explains: ‘Sexual trauma is one of the worst things that can happen to a person, it is similar to post- traumatic stress.

‘If I am brought in early enough I can be there when they give their statements. I remain impartial, it is not my place to give them advice on what they say, but I am there to make them as comfortable as possible.

‘Straight after their ordeal, they aren’t in any state of mind to think for themselves so I arrange a visit to a clinic where they can have a pregnancy test and checks for sexually transmitted diseases.

‘I then take them home and make sure they are safe.

‘In the weeks after I would take them to and from the police station and act as a go-between.

‘Sometimes it can take a while for cases to get to court and I will keep my client up to date with what is going on with the police investigation and where it is up to. I keep the lines of communication open.’

If the case makes it to court Carol is there every step of the way. She takes her clients down to the court beforehand so that they can see where they will be in relation to the defendant and where the judge and barristers will be.

Carol adds: ‘Once it has gone to the Crown Prosecution Service I will explain to the client the proceedings and accompany them to court.

‘Coming face to face with the defendant, the person who has caused them this much pain, is one of the biggest fears a client can have.

‘There are special measures within the court to ensure this doesn’t happen and I show them a secret entrance and the witness room.

‘I stay with them through the whole process. Some of them may be interviewed and cross-examined by video link, behind screens or actually go into court.

‘I want them to feel strong enough to go through with it. I try to build up their strength through trust.

‘The conviction rate for rape is very low. The victim needs and deserves justice.

‘However, I really want to stress that this is a free service and people can self-refer to us.

‘We have male and female clients. No one should be ashamed to say that they have been a victim of sexual violence and should seek help. We run a confidential service.’

DS Simon Blackwell is 100% behind the work that Carol does.

He said: ‘We have tried to utilise the service provided by Carol as much as possible and are keen to raise her profile.

‘Those that have used Carol have been pleased with the extra support and the feedback has been great.

‘ISVAs are the way forward in this area and are a useful addition. They are there from beginning to end for the victims that come to them.

‘People have been a lot happier and feel more valued and supported by an ISVA like Carol. In all public sectors, including the police, there are times when extra support is beneficial.

‘If they go to Carol at least they get some support. The conviction rate for rape is very low, but hopefully if victims know that they will be supported all of the way through, they will be more inclined to come forward.

‘I don’t want anyone to sit in silence. Even if a victim doesn’t feel like they can approach the police they should go to Carol and get help.

‘No one has the right to be a victim of rape and sexual assault. There are people who want to help.’