A Message from PCC Clare Moody: To Survivors of Abuse, You Are Not Alone
There is a great deal of media coverage of male violence against women and girls this week, with the coverage of Virginia Giuffre’s autobiography and of the child sexual exploitation enquiry.
This news will have an impact on many people with lived experience of sexual abuse. For some this may be an important moment of discussion, breaking of the silence that too often surrounds their experience. But for many others it may also be a time when past trauma is re-activated, or when painful memories of harm return.
In my role as Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset I want to take a moment to reach out to all of those impacted by this to remind you of two important things:
- You do not have to face this alone, there are services set up to support you
- No matter when it happened, you can report it to the police.
I fund three key support services in Avon and Somerset who provide free help – no matter who harmed you, or when it happened:
- The Green House – a specialist support service for children, young people and families who have experienced sexual abuse.
- SARSAS – A specialist service offering emotional and practical support for anyone aged 13+ who has been affected by rape or sexual abuse.
- Safe Link – A local charity providing support, advocacy and safety planning for survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
- The Bridge (Sexual Violence Support Service) – A service offering emotional and medical support to adults and young people recently affected by sexual violence.
These services are available whether or not you choose to report to the police.
If you are considering reporting, please know it’s never too late in Avon and Somerset: The specialist detectives in Operation Bluestone work in a trauma-informed, victim-led approach to investigations.
If you’re not yet ready to report, but you want to share information because you’re worried that someone you know may have been harmed (or may be harming others), you can report anonymously via:
- Crimestoppers – A charity that allows you to share information about crime anonymously and securely.
- Sarah’s Law (Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme) – Allows anyone to ask the police if someone with access to a child has a record of sexual offences, so steps can be taken to protect that child.
Please remember you are not alone. There is help available. You deserve to be heard and supported, and there is no “wrong time” to seek help or to speak out.