If you have experienced a recent assault

If you been raped, sexually assaulted or sexually abused recently and you would like to access support we are here to support you.

If this has just happened to you, you might be experiencing lots of different feelings. You may people feel scared, numb, shocked, confused, or angry. However you are feeling at this moment this is okay, you can access support as soon as you want to.

If this incident has just taken place you might want to do one the following things to help you to feel safe:

• Try to get to a place of safety.
• You may be experiencing shock – try to keep warm if possible.
• Talk to someone that you trust and tell them what has happened.
• Try not to be on your own.
• Contact us at RASA
• Go to your nearest A&E or make an urgent appointment with your GP

If you are injured and need medical attention go to your nearest A&E or call for an ambulance. If you are in danger to not hesitate to contact 999 before you do anything else.

You may wish to report to the Police

If you would like to report to the police you can do this by contacting 999 or the non-emergency number 101.  It is entirely up to you if you decide to contact the Police. If you do you can access our ISVA support service that will help you through this process.

If you do report to the police, they may want to take you to the SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre) www.safeplacemerseyside.org.uk for a forensic medical examination.  There will be a doctor and a support worker there to help you through this process. 

If you want to be examined and you do not wish to report to the police you can contact your local SARC and make a self-referral.  The SARC can store forensic evidence which might help if you wish to report later.  The examination is way of gathering evidence such as bodily fluids, hair and DNA.

If you do want forensic evidence to be collected, try and go to the SARC or police as soon as you can, and within 72 hours if possible. Try to preserve evidence as best you can by not washing, brushing your teeth or changing your clothes. 

If you have done any of these things do not worry as evidence may still be detected.  The most important thing is that you get the support that is best for you.

If you do decide to change your clothes, put the ones you were wearing in a clean plastic bag without washing them if you can.