A sexual assault is any sexual act that a person did not consent to or is forced into against their will. It is a form of sexual violence and includes rape (an assault involving penetration of the vagina, anus, or mouth), or other sexual offences, such as groping, forced kissing, child sexual abuse or the torture of a person in a sexual manner.
It is not uncommon for a victim of sexual assault to have no physical injuries or signs of their assault. But sexual assault is a crime and can be reported to the police in the same way as other crimes.
Sexual assault is an act that is carried out without the victim’s active consent. This means they didn’t agree to it.
Yes, Treetops SARC is a confidential service. We need to share information with other agencies if we believe a child or vulnerable adult has been or is at risk of serious harm. It is up to you if you decide to tell anybody about what has happened. We may need to break confidentiality if we believe you or someone else is at risk of serious harm. We would keep you informed of this wherever possible.
No, you do not have to report the matter to the police. The SARC is still here to help you and will respect your decision.
If the assault took place within the last 7 days one of your options may be to have a forensic medical examination at Treetops SARC. If you decide to do this the swabs will be kept anonymously and securely at Treetops for up to two years. This enables you to have time to make a decision about whether or not to report to police. If you decide to then report the assault to the police with your consent, we will transfer your samples to the police as part of their investigation.
No. If you are referring yourself the police will not be told of your report. We work in partnership with Hampshire Constabulary for those people who do wish to make a report to the police.
Yes, we can help refer you to a counsellor or other relevant support services.