sussex police website brighton & hove city council website

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is any unwanted sexual act or activity. There are many different kinds of sexual abuse, including but not restricted to: rape, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, sexual harassment, rape within marriage / relationships.

Sexual violence can be perpetrated by a complete stranger, or by someone known and even trusted, such as a friend, colleague, family member, partner or ex-partner. Sexual violence can happen to anyone. No-one ever deserves or asks for it to happen.

100% of the responsibility for any act of sexual violence lies with its perpetrator. There is no excuse for sexual violence; it cannot be justified.

It is a physical, psychological and emotional violation, in the form of a sexual act, which is inflicted on someone without consent. It can be perpetrated by a complete stranger or by someone you know, such as a friend, colleague, family member, partner or ex-partner.

Whatever the situation, if you, a family member or a friend, have experienced rape or any sort of sexual violence, remember:

  • Rape and sexual abuse are not acceptable
  • Anyone experiencing rape or any other kind sexual abuse is not blame – it was not your fault no matter where you were, what you were doing, what you were wearing, what you were saying, if you were drunk or under the influence of drugs, it was not your fault and you did not deserve this.
  • You are not alone. Help and support is available.

Always call 999 if someone is in danger.

  • How to get help

    How to get help

    For Women, Men and Young People:

    • The Portal provides a single point of contact for victims and survivors of domestic or sexual abuse and violence, helping them to find the right help, advice and support. The Portal can also give advice and support to friends, families and professionals. Call 0300 323 9985
    • Survivors’ Network provide a range of help and support for survivors of sexual violence, rape and childhood sexual abuse
    • The Independent Sexual Violence Advisory service (ISVA) offers support to access appropriate services and help to understand your rights, either in the immediate aftermath, or years after surviving sexual violence or abuse. Call 01273 203380
    • The Helpline can be contacted between 7pm – 9pm on Wednesdays and Fridays on 01273 720110, email help@survivorsnetwork.org.uk or text 07797 999989.
    • Mankind Counselling, based in Hove, East Sussex provide counselling to men (18+) who have experienced childhood sexual abuse and/or adult sexual assault at any time in their lives. Call 01273 911680

    For people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities:

    • Help and support is available locally from the services listed in this section
    • The city does not currently have any specialist provision specifically for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people affected by rape or any form of sexual violence
    • For information on other national services, follow this link.

    For Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans* People:

    • The Survivors’ Network Independent Sexual Violence Advisory (ISVA) service offers support to access appropriate services and help to understand your rights, either in the immediate aftermath, or years after surviving sexual violence or abus. Call 01273 203380
    • Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard run a helpline, which offers a supportive, non-judgemental and confidential space for LGBT people as well as for their family, friends and supporters. The helpline is run by trained volunteers. You can call each evening about anything that’s on your mind, to receive information or get emotional support. The helpline is open from 5-9pm on weekdays an 5-7pm at weekends. Call 01273 204050.

    Anyone can:

    • Access the Saturn Centre, which provides a range of services to anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted. You don’t have to be referred. All you need to do is ring first to make an appointment. Call 01293 600469
    • Contact Sussex Police by calling 101.

    There are also national helplines available:

    • Rape Crisis England & Wales has a national helpline for survivors of rape and sexual abuse, and their partners, friends and family. Call 0808 802 9999
    • Survivors UK provides support for men who have experienced childhood sexual abuse or adult sexual assault/ rape, as well as their partners and carers. They run a web based helpline service 4 days a week which can be accessed at www.survivorsuk.org/speak-to-us/

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the Amber Card?

      

    A key part of our local strategy is about raising awareness (so that everyone knows that violence or abuse are not ok) and making sure there are consistent care pathways in the city (so everyone knows about the help & support that is available).

    Because violence & abuse are so often hidden, our ambition is to ensure that victim/survivors can access information and support wherever they may be. With this in mind, the partnership has produced a range of promotional materials:

    • The local ‘Amber Card’, which includes information on local and national services and what domestic and sexual violence & abuse might be like, as well as basic advice on safety (cover, inside)
    • A range of posters, which are targeted at victim/survivors of domestic violence & abuse (female version, male version) and sexual violence & abuse (female version, male version), and include information on local and national services.

    These materials include the following key messages:

    • You are not alone
    • No one deserves to experience violence or abuse
    • You don’t have to put up with it
    • You are not to blame
    • Help and support is available.

    You can order hard copies of the ‘Amber Card’ or posters for use in your service or agency by emailing community.safety@brighton-hove.gov.uk

    Related subjects: 
    Domestic Abuse
    Sexual Abuse

  • Are there specialist services for people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities?

      

    There are a range of national services that can provide help and support for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people affected by domestic violence & abuse or sexual violence & abuse, including:

    Ashiana Network

    Ashiana Network offers advice, training, counselling and support services to women and girls aged 14+ experiencing domestic violence, forced marriage, and/or sexual violence.

    Based in East London, the organisation runs three refuges for South Asian, Turkish and Iranian women. Two refuges are for women aged 16-25 with no children experiencing forced marriage and one is for women aged 16-30 with no children. Ashiana provides resettlement services for 3-6 months for refuge residents.

    Ashiana also has a caseworker for Harmful Practices: Honour Based Violence, Forced Marriage & Female Genital Mutilation.

    Tel: 020 8539 0427

    Email: info@ashiana.org.uk

    Website: www.ashiana.org.uk

    Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Home Office Forced Marriage Unit (FMU)

    The FMU is a joint government unit, which operates in the UK and overseas where consular assistance is provided to British nationals, including dual nationals.

    The unit operates a public helpline to provide advice and support to victims of forced marriage as well as to professionals dealing with cases. The assistance ranges from simple safety advice, through to aiding a victim to prevent their unwanted spouse moving to the UK and in extreme circumstances, to rescues of victims held against their will overseas.

    It is a criminal offence in the UK to force someone to marry and can result in a sentence of up to 7 years in prison.

    Tel: 020 7008 0151

    Email: fmu@fco.gov.uk

    Website: www.gov.uk/forced-marriage

    FORWARD UK

    FORWARD (Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development) is an African Diaspora women-led campaign and support charity dedicated to advancing and safeguarding the sexual and reproductive health and rights of African girls and women.

    FORWARD works to change practices and policies that affect access, dignity and wellbeing in the UK, Europe and Africa and tackles female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage and related rights of girls and young women.

    In March 2004, the new UK Female Genital Mutilation Act makes FGM prohibited by law whether it is committed against a UK national or permanent UK resident in the UK or abroad.

    If you are at risk or suspect someone is at risk, you can ring FORWARD for support and advice.

    Tel: 020 8960 4000

    Fax: 020 8960 4014

    Website: www.forwarduk.org.uk

    Friends, Families And Travellers (FFT)

    FFT seeks to end racism and discrimination against Gypsies and Travellers, whatever their ethnicity or background, whether settled or mobile and to protect the right to pursue a nomadic way of life.

    FFT provides advice and information for Gypsies and Travellers on a wide range of issues including education, health, legal, housing and homelessness. FFT works to bridge Gypsies and Travellers into mainstream services including those providing domestic violence support.

    Tel: 01273 234 777

    Email: fft@gypsy-traveller.org

    Website: www.gypsy-traveller.org/

    Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (IKWRO)

    IKROW’s mission is to protect Middle Eastern and Afghan women and girls who are at risk of ‘honour-based’ violence, forced marriage, child marriage, FGM, and domestic violence and to promote their rights.

    IKROW provides direct services for women and girls, including advocacy, training and counselling. Staff also provide advice and support to professionals from bodies such as the police, social services and schools.

    IKRO offers advice in Farsi, Kurdish, Dari, Arabic, Turkish and Pashto.

    Tel: 020 7920 6460 (Mon-Fri 9.30-5.30)

    Out of hours emergencies:

    Tel: 07846 275246 (Kurdish/Arabic 24 hrs)

    Tel: 07846 310157 (Farsi/Dari/Turkish 24 hrs)

    A form to send a secure email is available on the website.

    Website: http://ikwro.org.uk/

    Latin American Women’s Rights Service (LAWRS)

    LAWRS’ Violence Against Women prevention project offers advice, advocacy and practical support for Latin American women who are experiencing or have experienced any form of violence. Support consists of:

    • Telephone and face-to-face advice and casework
    • Advocacy to secure legal protection, rights and entitlements
    • Securing safe and emergency accommodation
    • Referrals to therapy, welfare, employment and language support services
    • Informing women of their rights

    LAWRS works with trusted lawyers, refuges, health and other services to secure specialist support for all Latin American women regardless of their status, income, age or sexuality.

    All services are free, confidential and are available in Spanish and Portuguese. A crèche facility is available for users with young children.

    Tel: 020 7336 0888 / 084 4264 0682

    Website: www.lawrs.org.uk

    Website in Spanish: http://lawrs-esp.org.uk

    Website in Portuguese: www.lawrs-port.org.uk

    Southall Black Sisters (SBS)

    SBS is a not-for-profit organisation set up to meet the needs of black and minority ethnic women.

    Based in Southall, London, the organisation provides a range of advice and support services to enable BME women to gain the knowledge and confidence they need to assert their human rights.

    SBS provides general and specialist advice on gender-related issues such as domestic violence, sexual violence, forced marriage, ‘honour’ killings and their intersection with the criminal justice, immigration and asylum systems; health, welfare rights, homelessness and poverty.

    Helpline: 020 8571 0800

    General Enquiries: 020 8571 9595

    Website: www.southallblacksisters.org.uk

    Government Home Office UK Border Agency

    Applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain as a victim of domestic violence

    If a woman’s relationship with a British citizen or someone settled in the UK has broken down because of domestic violence, she may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain (permission to stay in the UK permanently).

    For more information and to obtain the application form SET (DV) for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK as a Victim of Domestic Violence, follow this link.

    Applying for access to public funds

    If a woman is in the UK on a temporary visa as a partner, the relationship has broken down because of domestic violence and the woman has no money to support herself, she can ask for permission to claim public funds (benefits) for up to 3 months while UK Visas and Immigration considers her application to settle in the UK.

    For more information and to obtain the application form for the Destitution Domestic Violence (DDV) concession, follow this link.

    Related subjects: 
    Domestic Abuse
    Female Genital Mutilation
    Sexual Abuse

  • Can sexual abuse affect heterosexual men?

      

    We know that heterosexual men can experience rape or sexual abuse, or experience this as children.

    • Contact the Survivors’ Network ISVA service or Mankind Counselling.

    There is also a specialist national helpline available for people experiencing domestic abuse

    • Contact Survivors UK.
    Related subjects: 
    Sexual Abuse

  • Can sexual abuse affect LGBTQI people?

      

    We know that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans* people can experience rape or sexual abuse, or experience this as children.

    • Contact the Survivors’ Network ISVA service or Mankind Counselling
    • Contact the Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard.

    There is a specialist national helpline available for people experiencing rape or sexual abuse:

    • Contact Survivors UK.

    There are also a range of resources available online including information produced by the Lesbian and Gay Foundation and Galop.

    Related subjects: 
    Sexual Abuse

  • What is consent?

      

    The word ‘consent’ in the context of the offence of rape is now defined in the Sexual Offences Act 2003. A person consents if she or he agrees by choice, and has the freedom and capacity to make that choice. The essence of this definition is the agreement by choice. The law does not require the victim to have physically resisted in order to prove a lack of consent. The question of whether the victim consented is a matter for the jury to decide, although the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) considers this issue very carefully throughout the life of a case.

    • Consent means giving your agreement or ‘saying yes’ to something, in this case sex. The law says that consent is something active. It means freely choosing to say ‘yes’
    • If you don’t agree, then you don’t give your consent. If you are threatened, frightened, drugged, coerced or asleep then you can’t give your consent freely.
    Related subjects: 
    Sexual Abuse

  • How can I help a family member or friend who has experienced sexual abuse?

      

    Knowing that a family member or friend has experienced rape or some form of sexual abuse is hard, knowing what to say is even harder. There are a range of resources available that can help you decide how best to raise this with your family member or friend. There are also resources available to help you give useful advice. Rape Crisis has some useful guidance on how to help, which you can access by clicking here.

    You could also contact a local service like Survivors’ Network for information and advice.

    Related subjects: 
    Sexual Abuse

  • What is sexual violence and abuse?

      

    Sexual abuse is a general term that includes many acts such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, rape, sexual exploitation and sexual slavery/prostitution.

    • Sexual Assault is any sexual contact that is against a person’s will or without consent. This may be because of force, violence, manipulation or where the victim has been too intoxicated or too scared to give consent.
    • Rape is when the vagina, anus or mouth is intentionally penetrated by the perpetrator’s penis without consent. It is also classed as rape if the perpetrator continued to penetrate you after you withdrew consent.

    It is not relevant what relationship, if any, the perpetrator has or had with you, or if the perpetrator is your partner.

    Related subjects: 
    Sexual Abuse

  • What do you mean by the sex industry?

      

    The sex industry includes prostitution, pornography and other commercial sex-based activities such as lap-dancing, often – but not solely – associated with the ‘night time economy’. Trafficking into and within the UK is internationally recognised to be linked to prostitution; facilitating the movement of women for prostitution within (as well as across) borders constitutes trafficking. State agencies have a responsibility to tackle the demand for prostitution (UN Optional Protocol on Trafficking in Human Beings).

    Related subjects: 
    Sexual Abuse