PCD 1298 Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) FY 22/23;

PCD 1298 Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) FY 22/23;

This decision seeks to maintain the existing Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) service provision commissioned by the Mayor in London which supports all victims of sexual violence for a further twelve months from 1 April 2022 – 31 March 2023. 

SARC provision is a core function of Police and Crime Commissioners; and the only service that offers the forensic medical examinations which are a specialist medical procedure which contributes to the criminal justice process as part of victims’ access to justice. This service is co-commissioned with NHS England, who are the majority funder. NHS England commission Kings College Foundation Trust to deliver the London Havens across three hospital-based sites; Camberwell, Kensington and Whitechapel. 

This decision seeks approval for MOPAC to enter into a funding agreement with NHS England for MOPAC’s funding contribution to the London Havens, who provide the SARCs service across London, to the value of £2,165,00 to support direct frontline support for victims of sexual violence regardless of their age, gender, sexual orientation, and background. 

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:   

1. Approve entering into a funding agreement, for £2,165,000, with NHS England for MOPAC’s contribution to the funding of the SARCs service for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023; and 

2. Delegate authority to the Chief Financial Officer to enter into a funding agreement with NHS England and agree the final terms of this agreement. 

PART I - NON-CONFIDENTIAL FACTS AND ADVICE TO THE DMPC 

1. Introduction and background  

1. The refreshed Mayor’s Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy 2022 – 2025 sets out the commitment to supporting victims through the provision of essential specialist services. The Mayor has committed to maintaining investment in the London Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs). This has been achieved through co-commissioning the London Havens alongside NHS England at a current cost of £2,165,000 for this financial year to provide this service on a Pan London basis to all victims of sexual violence regardless of their age, gender, sexual orientation or background. 

2. The SARCs Havens work very closely with the London Survivors Gateway partners, which is the London hub for sexual violence services. During FY 21/22, the SARCs received a total of 1,340 referrals. 

3. SARCs provision is a core function of the Police and Crime Commissioner and provides the forensic medical examination which is a specialist service to collect evidence which may support the investigation of the sexual assault. This is a optional procedure and there is no onus for victims to undergo this or engage with a criminal justice approach if they do not wish to. The SARCs also offer an integrated service for follow up tests and medication for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and emergency contraception.   

4. Issues for consideration  

5. The proposed funding award will continue to part fund the provision for victims of sexual assault in: 

• Acute healthcare and support in age-appropriate settings.  

• Comprehensive forensic medical examination to support investigations.  

• Follow up services which address the client’s medical, psychosocial and on-going needs.  

• Direct access or referral to Independent Sexual Assault Advisor (ISVA). 

2. The service is provided 24/7 and being based at acute hospital sites ensures immediate access to A&E services, trauma units and emergency crash teams. The immediacy of the service enables the efficient collection of time limited forensic evidence while addressing the well-being of the individual and reducing the number of interventions made by police and healthcare. 

The SARCs service is delivered across three sites; Camberwell, Whitechapel and Kensington. The three sites are currently structured to provide London’s forensic medical examination pathway and also include a psychology and counselling service, in house ISVA service and specialist CYP service.  

3. Financial Comments  

4. This decision requests approval to extend the funding agreement with NHS England for the co-commissioned SARCs Havens service for a total amount of £2,165,000 for the period from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. The funding source for this budget is the Core MOPAC budget.  

5. Payments will be made in line with current arrangements following satisfactory performance and grant management meetings. 

6. Legal Comments  

7. MOPAC’s general powers are set out in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). Section 3(6) of the 2011 Act provides that MOPAC must “secure the maintenance of the metropolitan police service and secure that the metropolitan police service is efficient and effective.” Under Schedule 3, paragraph 7 (1) MOPAC has wide incidental powers to “do anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of the functions of the Office.” Paragraph 7(2) (a) provides that this includes entering into contracts and other agreements. 

8. Section 143 (1) of the Anti-Social, Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides for MOPAC to provide or commission services “intended by the local policing body to victims or witnesses of or other persons affected by offences and anti-social behaviour.” Section 143 (3) specifically allows MOPAC to make grants in connection with such arrangements and any grant may be made subject to any conditions that MOPAC thinks appropriate. 

9. Under MOPAC’s Scheme of Delegation, the approval of business cases for revenue or capital expenditure of £500,000 and above, are for the DMPC. The strategy for grant giving, the award of individual grants, all offers made and the award of grant funding are also for the DMPC. The decisions in this report can be approved by the DMPC. 

10. Officers must ensure the financial Regulations and Contract Regulations are complied with. 

11. Commercial Issues 

12. There are no procurement issues with this funding agreement. The value of this funding agreement is not being increased and is in line with the terms and conditions of the contracts and grants regulations. 

13. MOPAC makes no commitment to fund the SARCS Havens service until the grant amendment has been signed by both parties. These will detail the new performance and payment schedules, in line with previous arrangements.  

14. Public Health Approach 

15. Violence against women and girls is a public health issue. Grant award to this service is informed by the Mayor’s public health approach to violence reduction and therefore part of MOPAC’s contribution to overall efforts support victims and perpetrators of violence. The public health approach to violence prevention is being led by London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), which supports the MOPAC work through preventative programmes supporting young people.   

16. GDPR and Data Privacy  

17. MOPAC will adhere to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensure that any organisations who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities.   

18. Equality Comments  

19. MOPAC is required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. 

20. Background/supporting papers 

21. PCD 846 VAWG 2021/22 Commissioning Decisions