Reporting Rape or Sexual Assault

Information about the NHS Sexual Assault Response Coordination Service (SARCS)

If you have recently been raped or sexually assaulted, it’s understandable if you don’t know what to do or where to turn.

SARCS is a dedicated NHS service which can offer healthcare and support in the days after an assault, if you are not ready to tell the police or are unsure. They offer support for people under 16 as well as older young people and adults.

What options are available to me?

Police report

If you have been raped or sexually assaulted, you can report it to the police at any time, in an emergency situation dial 999, non-emergencies dial 101,  www.scotland.police.uk

Self-referral to a SARCS

If you have been raped or sexually assaulted within the last 7 days and do not want to tell the police or are unsure about telling them now – you can self-refer to a SARCS. This means you don’t need a GP or other healthcare professional to refer you to a SARCS – you can do this yourself.

You can phone a dedicated NHS telephone number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and speak to a specially trained healthcare professional who can help to arrange the care you might need.  

You can find more information about how to self-refer to a SARCS, and the telephone number to call, on the NHS Inform website www.nhsinform.scot/sarcs

If you have experienced rape or sexual assault and need support you can ask us a question on the site.

Sometimes it can be difficult to know if someone’s behaviour towards you is abusive. You can read more HERE & HERE about consent and healthy relationships. Click HERE to find out more about sex and the law.