Help for Coventry and Warwickshire sex assault victims
Organisations in Coventry and Warwickshire have come together to improve services for victims of sexual assault.
A strategic board made up of police, the NHS, county and city councils aims to develop a support network for those affected.
Part of the plans were to establish a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (Sarc).
Sarc will offer a place to report assaults, receive medical treatment and counselling.
'Detection and support'
Warwickshire Police admitted the centre would take some time to deliver, though in the meantime work would be done over sexual assault prevention, detection and victim support.
Assistant Chief Constable Neil Brunton said: "Our aim is to encourage victims of serious sexual offences such as rape to come forward and seek help whether from the police, NHS or local support agencies."
Examples of such agencies were the Rape or Sexual Abuse Support Project (RoSA), Safeline, Coventry Rape & Sexual Abuse Centre (CRASAC) and the Terence Higgins Trust, police said.
Mr Brunton, who chairs the strategic board, said: "Agencies will be working together on a joint Coventry and Warwickshire improvement plan focussing on sexual assault prevention, detection and victim support."
Police said they would also be looking at how to improve health care, support, education and awareness about rape issues.