Work to start on dedicated assault referral centre

The new centre is to be run by Manx Care

Work is due to start on building a dedicated sexual assault centre on the Isle of Man "in the next week", the home affairs chief executive has said.

An interim service has been in place since late 2021 while work to develop a bespoke Sexual Assault Referral Centre (Sarc) continued.

Dan Davies said it was the department's "strong aspiration" to see spades in the ground by the end of the month.

The facility, originally due to open at the end of last year, would provide care and support to children and adults.

Giving evidence to Tynwald's Constitutional and Legal Affairs and Justice Committee, Mr Davies said the construction would last "about a year" and, once completed, the island would have "a state of the art forensic medical centre".

'Best in class service'

Victims of sexual violence will be able to access the new service through the healthcare system.

Mr Davies said it would be a big improvement on the current service, where people are mostly referred through the police.

In future a person would be deal with a clinical professional and there would be "the subsequent option to engage with the police”, he explained.

The Department of Home Affairs had the revenue budget for the running of the centre to Manx Care, which is responsible for delivering the service, he added.

Construction of the Sarc is expected to cost about £3.38m.

While the current service was "really competent" led by a "very good sexual offences forensic examiner", the new facility would put the island in "an even better position", Mr Davies said.

"We think it will be a best in class service for the Isle of Man."

Correction 19 September 2024: The cost of the Sarc has been updated to £3.38m to reflect the figure listed in the Isle of Man Budget 2023-24.