CITY RAPE CRISIS CENTRE TO OPEN; First site in a decade for assault victims.

Byline: RACHEL COOPER

LIVERPOOL is to get its first dedicated rape crisis centre in more than a decade when a new centre opens in the city next week.

The service will be run by Rape and Sexual Abuse (RASA) which has operated a similar centre in Birkenhead since 1986.

A dedicated counsellor will offer advice and support at the centre to women who have suffered rape, sexual assault or child abuse and women will also be able to call a Liverpool helpline.

Liverpool's previous centre closed due to lack of funding in 1996.

RASA, which has taken more than 40,000 calls from rape and sexual assault victims since its inception, currently has 595 women on its books and 46% of their Merseyside client base live in Liverpool.

Jo Wood, of Rape Crisis Merseyside, said yesterday: "We were aware that we desperately needed someone dedicated to Liverpool and Liverpool premises.

"The Mersey is a huge barrier and the police advised us we would get further with Liverpool women if we had a Liverpool phone number." Ms Wood, who has worked for four years to secure funding, said she was delighted that they were finally able to open a centre in the city.

Although Safe Place, a Sexual Abuse Referral Centre (SARC), does exist in the city, its services are currently only available to people who have reported being attacked to the police.

"We look after the 95% of people who aren't reporting to the police," said Ms Wood, who added that in 2007, 32 people were charged with rape in Liverpool, but in the same year, RASA had 320 new cases.

The Liverpool site has been given a grant of pounds 35,000 for the next three years by the Tudor Trust, but Ms Wood added: "We're always teetering on the brink when it comes to funding.

"But one in four of the population experience some kind of sexual violence and there would be nowhere for them to go if we can't keep strong. We receive referrals every single day, from the police, from social services".

Ms Wood and rape crisis colleagues will be handing out details of their new service in Williamson Square tomorrow when the Home Office roadshow bus comes to town as part of its consultation on ending violence against women.

FACT will also host a day of drama and art on the theme of violence against women and Ms Wood will speak at 1.15pm.

The Liverpool rape crisis centre will be open from nine to five on weekdays, but it does not operate a drop-in service to protect clients - women need to phone to make an appointment.

The Liverpool helpline number is 0151 707 4313..