What to do if you have been raped
First 24 hours
- If your health is at risk call emergency services on 999.
- If you are able to - get yourself to a safe place.
- Is there someone you trust you can contact to help you?
- Is there someone you can ask to stay with you or you could stay with if it makes you feel safer?
- You may need to go to the casualty department at your local hospital to check there are no internal injuries.
- Do you want to report to the police - 999. This is entirely your decision but if you do then the sooner you do it the better.
- The police will usually come to you if you don't want to go to the police station.
- If you can, don't shower or bathe before going to the police.
- Keep all the clothes you were wearing at the time. These may provide valuable evidence.
- Try not to disturb any evidence around the scene of the incident.
- If you contact the police they will arrange for a forensic examination to take place. You can ask for someone to accompany you. Forensic examinations normally take place at a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC).
- You may want to contact us for support and information 01782 221000 (not 24 hour).
- You may want to consider the need for emergency contraception - http://www.fpa.org.uk/information/dontpanic
- You may want to see your own doctor.
- If you are able to write down as much as you can remember about the circumstances of the assault.
The next 72 hours
- At all stages you can consider contacting the police.
- If you are a female, there is still time for emergency contraception.
- You may want to consider the Independant Sexual Violence Advisor support at Savana- this will help identify your needs and signpost for services.
- Give yourself time - try and take things slowly and think about what you want - respect your own judgement.
- Contact us if you want information, for example about health, contacting the police or support/counselling.
In the following week
- You can still consider contacting the police.
- You may want to make an appointment for the Genito Urinary Medicine Clinic (GUM) to be checked for sexually transmitted infections. You can go to any clinic (it does not have to be your local clinic) and the service is confidential - i.e. it does not go on your medical records unless your GP refers you.
- Consider contacting us or another agency for support or counselling.
Longer than a week or if the rape/sexual abuse happened some time ago
- It is never too late to tell someone what has happened to you.
- Contact us if you want information or support - 01782 221000
- You can still consider contacting the police. Even without forensic evidence they can still investigate the crime. If you would like us to we can support you to do this.
- You may still have concerns about your health - see the information above for appropriate contacts.
- Remember you know yourself better than anyone and know what is best for you.
- Try to explain to the people around you what you want from them, for example, to just listen, to give you some time alone.
- Some people find that writing down their feelings or drawing helps them feel better. Don't feel bad if you feel angry or sad.
- Try not to be pressurised into physical and sexual contact before you feel ready.
- Do think about accessing counselling or support. It can help to talk to someone outside your close circle of family or friends.
- Sometimes people access counselling several times but are unable to attend the appointments for lots of reasons. Rape crisis workers understand this. Please do try to contact again.
Support in your area
Contact details of other useful services can be found in the Useful Links section.
Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)
SARCs can offer a number of different services including: counselling, forensic examinations and information on sexually transmitted infections.
In terms of the forensic examinations, a doctor will check to see whether you have any injuries and make sure that you are alright. The doctor will explain what they are doing during the examination and if you feel uncomfortable at any point the doctor will stop what they are doing. The doctor may also need to take a blood sample but will ask you about this and not force you into anything that you do not want.
The time the examination will take varies from person to person.
If you wish, you can also have a Crisis Worker accompany you into the room. Alternatively, you might want a friend or member of the family in the room with you.
It is sometimes useful for the SARC to take the clothes you have been wearing as evidence to be used in any investigation. If you can bring a change of clothes then that is advisable.
For adults who attend the centre there is no need to inform your family unless you want to, however if the centre is worried about child protection or ongoing abuse of a vulnerable adult then they may have to pass this information on to other agencies (e.g. social services).
The doctor's notes are stored at the SARC. The information may be shared with the police if they are involved but the centre will discuss this with you.