Picture: CLARE HOMER Ref: 76844-77POLICE insist their top priority is to get rape victims seen by doctors not convictions.

Previously, victims had to go to the police to get access to specialist health care.

Now all they need to do is contact their local GP, drop-in centre or Great Western Hospital for a referral to the centre.

Trained nurses and doctors will advise them on the options but there is no pressure to get police involved.

One of the places is The Sanctuary, a sexual assault referral centre, at Taw Hill Medical Practice.

Wiltshire's Chief Constable Martin Richards, said it marks the start of a fresh approach.

Nationally, there are concerns that few victims of sex crime making statements.

New figures show there were 236 sexual offences reported in Swindon over the past 12 months and police caught 30 per cent of the offenders. Seventy per cent, around 160, were not caught.

Chief Constable Richards believes that's merely the tip of the iceberg with many victims choosing to suffer in silence.

He hoped the fresh approach would help build relations between health services and the police and eventually encourage more victims to report crime.

"The emphasis is very much on care," he said.

"Victim care is at the heart of determined efforts being made by health and criminal justice partners in Wiltshire and Swindon.

"We would be very pleased if, as a result of this new approach, more victims came forward, but that is not our primary concern."

Like all crime, police prefer to gather forensic evidence as soon as possible after an incident.

But they stress that examinations can be carried out up to a week after the assault.

The Home Office pumped £70,000 into the Sanctuary, which first opened in March 2002.

Dr Peter Crouch, of the surgery, described the centre as a significant step forward.

He said: "Until now, the delivery of specialist medical service following a sexual assault has depended wholly upon Wiltshire Constabulary.

"Working together in partnership, all agencies that work with victims can refer to this new service.

"This will greatly assist the many victims of sexual assault who do not currently come forward for help."

The centre has been specially designed to ease trauma.

Relaxing colours have been used and waiting areas have been furnished with comfortable sofas.

Kevin Shoesmith