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Police support after rape or sexual assault
If you have been raped or sexually assaulted, you can report it to the police, but you do not have to do this straight away. In the UK, police can help you get immediate protection, arrange a forensic examination, and explain your options in a calm and supportive way.
You can ask to speak to specially trained officers, and you may be offered a sexual offences liaison officer or a similar support role. Police should also tell you about your rights, such as whether you want to make a formal statement now or later.
If you are not ready to report, some areas have independent sexual violence advisers who can support you while you decide what to do. They can help you understand the process and stay with you through appointments.
NHS care and medical support
The NHS can provide urgent medical care after rape or sexual assault, even if you do not want to contact the police. You can go to A&E if you need immediate treatment for injuries or are in pain, and staff should treat you with dignity and privacy.
Many areas also have specialist Sexual Assault Referral Centres, often called SARCs. These centres offer medical help, forensic examination, emergency contraception, testing for sexually transmitted infections, and support from trained staff.
You do not have to agree to a police report to receive care at a SARC. The staff can explain your choices and help you decide what feels right for you.
Support from charities and specialist services
Charities can offer emotional support, practical advice, and someone to talk to when you are ready. Rape Crisis centres are available in many parts of the UK and provide counselling, helplines, and advocacy for women and girls who have experienced sexual violence.
Some charities support all survivors, including men, boys, and LGBT+ people. They can help with safety planning, writing down what happened, understanding the legal process, and finding other services in your area.
Charity support is usually free and confidential. You can often contact these services without a referral from a doctor or the police.
Confidentiality, choices, and getting help
You are in control of what happens next, and support should move at your pace. You can ask questions, take someone with you to appointments, and choose whether to report to police now, later, or not at all.
If you are in immediate danger, call 999. If you are not in immediate danger but need advice, you can contact NHS services, a SARC, a rape support charity, or the police non-emergency line on 101.
Different services can work together, but you only have to use the support that feels right for you. Reaching out can be a first step, even if you are unsure what you need yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rape and sexual assault survivor support from police, NHS, and charities refers to coordinated help after an assault, including emergency medical care, forensic examination, emotional support, safety planning, investigation options, and access to specialist advocacy or counselling.
Anyone who has experienced rape or sexual assault can seek support from police, NHS services, and specialist charities, regardless of when the assault happened, whether they plan to report, their age, gender, nationality, immigration status, or disability.
Support can usually be accessed through 999 in an emergency, NHS emergency or sexual health services, local sexual assault referral centres, police non-emergency contact, and specialist charities or helplines that can provide advice and onward referrals.
If it is safe to do so, the person should get to a safe place, contact emergency services if needed, seek urgent medical care, avoid washing or changing clothes if forensic evidence may be important, and contact a sexual assault support service or charity for guidance.
Yes. A person can often receive NHS care, counselling, advocacy, and forensic support without making a police report at that time, and many charities can help explain the options before any decision about reporting is made.
NHS support may include emergency treatment, sexual health checks, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing, STI testing and treatment, forensic medical examinations, follow-up appointments, mental health support, and referrals to specialist services.
Police can take reports, investigate offences, collect evidence, arrange safeguarding measures, connect survivors with specialist officers, and work with NHS and charities to support the survivor during and after the criminal justice process.
Charities can provide confidential helplines, emotional support, advocacy, counselling, safety planning, practical advice, support through medical and court processes, and help survivors understand their rights and choices.
Confidentiality depends on the service, but NHS services and charities usually keep information private except where there are safeguarding concerns, serious risk, or legal duties. Police information handling is more limited because reports and evidence may be part of an investigation.
A specially trained clinician may assess injuries, offer treatment, and collect potential evidence such as samples or clothing. The person should be told what will happen, can ask questions, and can usually stop the examination at any time.
Yes. Children and young people can receive age-appropriate medical care, safeguarding support, advocacy, and specialist counselling, and the response may involve child protection services and specially trained police or health professionals.
Yes. Men and boys who have been raped or sexually assaulted can access the same broad range of support, including medical care, counselling, advocacy, police investigation, and specialist charity services.
Yes. Many services provide inclusive and specialist support for LGBTQ+ survivors, including non-judgmental care, safer disclosure options, and referrals to organisations experienced in supporting LGBTQ+ people.
Support can still be available months or years later, including counselling, medical advice, trauma support, advocacy, and help deciding whether to report to police or seek other forms of justice or safety planning.
Services can help with trauma symptoms, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, flashbacks, and panic by providing listening support, referrals to talking therapies, specialist counselling, crisis help, and ongoing mental health care where needed.
Practical help may include safety planning, advice on emergency accommodation, support with transport to appointments, advocacy with employers or schools, help accessing benefits or housing referrals, and guidance on evidence preservation and next steps.
Yes. Survivors can often seek support first and decide later whether to report. Charities and NHS-based specialist services can explain the process, preserve options where possible, and support the person if they choose to report in the future.
The survivor can still seek medical care, advocacy, and police support. Services can help with immediate safety planning, restraining or protective measures where appropriate, and advice on documenting incidents and reducing risk.
They should contact a sexual assault referral service, NHS urgent care, or police as soon as possible for guidance. Even if time has passed, support may still be available, and a specialist can explain what evidence can still be collected or documented.
Good services are survivor-led, meaning they should explain options clearly, avoid pressure, support informed decisions, and respect the survivor's pace, preferences, culture, identity, and wishes wherever possible.
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