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About the havens

History

Until May 2000, when the first of the havens was set up, the medical provision for victims of rape and sexual assault in London were poor. There were very few female doctors with the training to carry out forensic examinations in the capital. It was extremely difficult for assault victims to get hold of emergency contraception and treatment and prevention of STIs for them was hit and miss. Counselling and support for victims was patchy at best.

This all changed with the introduction of the haven Camberwell. Opened as part of the Department of Sexual Health at King’s College Hospital it covered 12 boroughs in south London. And its success was immediate and far reaching. In the first year alone 676 people were treated.

Such success could not be ignored and after extremely favourable evaluations by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and by the Metropolitan Police Authority, two further havens were opened to cover other areas of London. Paddington and Whitechapel both opened its doors in 2004.

Aims

The aims of the havens are to provide both excellent holistic care and gold standard evidence collection.

Ethos

The havens strive to always offer a service which respects our clients’ dignity, personal needs, lifestyle, background, religion, ethnicity, culture, sexuality and sexual health needs.

Funding

The havens are jointly funded by the Metropolitan Police and the 31 NHS Primary Care Trusts in London.

Training Opportunities

The havens offer specialised and accredited education and training focusing on victim care. The courses have been developed with the Metropolitan Police’s Project Sapphire. They are delivered by recognised experts in forensic examination, trauma and aftercare, sexual health, policing and criminal law.

• Find out more about training opportunities