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2016.02.23
3.7 Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Saviour of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the allocation of funding to set up a Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Jersey:
Can the Minister advise whether she will be allocating the necessary funding required to set up a Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Jersey and if not, why not?
Deputy K.L. Moore of St. Peter (The Minister for Home Affairs):
Jersey already has the foundations of a fully-functioning S.A.R.C. (Sexual Assault Referral Centre) which provides the care for adult and child victims of sexual assault. The Health Department and the police are already working collaboratively to share buildings, equipment and expertise to provide a good service to victims and a new forensic paediatrician and Island-designated doctor have been appointed. A range of possibilities are being explored to further develop a fully-fledged Jersey S.A.R.C., along with a co-ordinated victim service. A meeting is taking place this week between the police, the Health Department and possible partners from the voluntary and community sector to consider funding options and take appropriate steps to enhance the existing service.
- Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :
I thank the Minister for her answer; I am pleased that work is going on. Can the Minister confirm that she has the money within her current budget to ensure that a S.A.R.C. is delivered as soon as possible?
The Deputy of St. Peter :
As I said, discussions are ongoing to find potential partners from within the community and voluntary sector who may be able to assist with funding.
- Deputy J.A. Hilton:
Can the Minister confirm when the paediatric expert was employed and whether it is a full-time post, please?
The Deputy of St. Peter :
That is a very recent appointment as far as I am aware and it is a part-time post.
- The Deputy of Grouville :
Does the Minister have any estimates of the cost involved - the economic cost involved - for violence against women?
The Deputy of St. Peter :
That is a very good question; I thank the Deputy for it. It is a piece of work that is underway because it is something that has been collated in other jurisdictions and it is something that we are very keen to understand further.
- Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :
The Minister stated in her answer to a written question in February last year that this type of crime is massively under-reported and there have been calls for a S.A.R.C. for quite some time; in fact, I found a tender had gone out back in 2014. Will the Minister consider and, if she is able to, submit a further growth bid for the M.T.F.P. given that I think that the amount needed is around £50,000 and that we should not be relying on partners from within the community and this is important work that we should be able to fund from within our budgets?
The Deputy of St. Peter :
As we know, the M.T.F.P. process is still underway for the additional parts but in July of last year a paper was taken to the Council of Ministers asking for some £60,000. It is now considered that the sum needed to have a fully-fledged S.A.R.C. would be more in the region of £150,000 and so it is very much felt that there are interested parties within the community and voluntary sector and it would offer best value for money and also best possible practice and service to those people who require these services if we were to partner up with interested parties.