Non-recent

Are You A Non-recent Victim?

Your Choices

I DO NOT want to report this to the police

  • Call The Bridgeway on 0808 118 6432 (24 phone line)
  • A Crisis Worker will listen carefully and supportively to understand what happened to you, when it happened and what your situation is now
  • The Crisis Worker will explain what support is available to you and help you to decide on your next steps
  • You do not have to tell the Crisis Worker your name or contact details unless you choose to
  • If you do give us your name and contact details, the Crisis Worker will help to arrange any support that you decide you want
  • The support we can arrange includes sexual health care, advocacy and counselling.

I WANT to report this to the police

  • Call the police on 101 or 999 if you are in immediate danger
  • A specially trained officer will come to speak with you
  • The officer will arrange for you to complete a video interview. An Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) can support you when you meet with the police for this interview. If you have not heard from an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor before your interview, ask the police why not
  • The Bridgeway can arrange referrals to sexual health and counselling with your consent.

Whether your rape or sexual assault/abuse happened a couple of weeks ago or 40 years ago it is never too late to seek the support you need. The Bridgeway can offer you support and advice it is never too late.

Reporting abuse is not a decision that can be made easily. The majority of victims of historic abuse think about it for many years.

Factors that can Affect a Person from Reporting

  • Fear of what you may be asked
  • Fear of how your own lifestyle will be perceived
  • Fear of repercussions from the offender and their family members
  • Fear of re-surfacing the pain
  • Fear of not being believed
  • Fear of what will happen to your children/loved ones
  • Fear of how your family members will react – fear that it may make them ill, especially if you have elderly relatives

If the attack was more than seven days ago then the evidential benefits of a forensic medical examination are likely to be very limited. In some circumstances, however, there may be a good reason to conduct such an examination, either to set your mind at rest regarding injury or to secure some evidence of historic injury.

The Bridgeway is able to help with other matters, for example, we can still provide advice and information on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s) and practical and emotional support. This support may be via a referral to an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA).

You can call us on 0808 118 6432 to enquire about support for survivors of historic abuse.

Our services are available to everyone.