Not either/or but both/and: Why we need Rape Crisis Centres and Sexual Assault Referral Centres

The development of provision for victims-survivors of sexual assault has historically been piecemeal and locally specific.

Rape Crisis Centres (RCCs) and, more recently, Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs), have been established in certain parts of the UK but there is a lack of uniformity.

There is currently confusion at the political and policy levels in understanding the role each type of service plays in supporting victims-survivors and in terms of which is most actively promoted. It would even appear that the government is an exponent of SARCs whilst the opposition supports RCCs.

This briefing shows that both RCCs and SARCs are vital for survivors and delivery of policy targets: this is not a case of either/or but both/and.

Read Why we need Rape Crisis Centres and Sexual Assault Referral Centres