More areas of the UK could soon benefit from sexual assault referral centres like the one in Portsmouth.

The Home Office will today announce an extra 1.6 million pounds to increase the number of the units.

The Treetops in Cosham was one of the first centres to be set up, and provides help to sex attack victims from all over Hampshire.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will announce the next steps in ensuring that every person in the country has access to a Sexual Assault Referral Centre.

This new funding will go towards building ten new SARCs - with preference given to bids from local areas with the greatest need for additional services.

Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) provide victims with immediate medical help, counselling, forensic examinations and the opportunity to give evidence anonymously on one site.

The Home Secretary also announced an additional £100,000 to create a team of experts to target areas without a SARC and increase victims'access to these facilities. 

The expert team will include representatives from the Police, Crown Prosecution Service, the Forensic Science Service and an experienced SARC manager.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:

"There are few crimes more horrific than rape and I am determined to ensure that every victim has immediate access to the services and support they need. I want to see a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in every area and I urge areas to apply for this new £1.6 million funding.

"These centres not only improve the support we provide for victims but also encourage these crimes to be reported to the police. The expert medical advice available on site, and the forensic examinations are vital in bringing offenders to justice."

This new funding is part of the Government's commitment as laid out in the Tackling Violence Action Plan (February 2008) to double the number of SARCs from 19 to 38 by 2011.

Progress has already been made since this announcement and there are now 22 SARCs in England and Wales with more currently under development. 

John Yates, Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) lead for rape and serious sexual offences and Assistant Commissioner in the Metropolitan Police Service, said:

"ACPO welcomes the announcement of the additional funding to support the establishment of sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) across the country. We have always said that these excellent facilities should be accessible to every victim of this terrible crime, no matter where they live. We know from experience and feedback what a dramatic difference they make both in terms of care and support for victims and in relation to giving investigators the best chance to build a successful case."

Rape Crisis said:

"Rape Crisis (England and Wales) fully support this move towards making SARCs sustainable and available to all. Those who report sexual assault deserve high quality responses.

"Rape Crisis is pleased the Government is making this money available for both new and existing SARCs. SARCs are an important element in allowing victims of rape to access crisis medical and forensic support, whether or not the legal process goes ahead.

"The provision of a team of experts to engage with key local partners is a forward step in enabling all areas of the country to offer SARC services as currently there is a postcode lottery of SARC and Rape Crisis provision. The majority of Rape Crisis groups are either involved on steering and delivery groups for prospective SARCs or are currently delivering crisis and long term counselling services as part of the SARC support provision. We hope to continue to work in equal partnership on this new initiative."

* Safe Island, Cardiff
* Helen Britton House, Cleveland
* Millfield House, Derbyshire
* The Meadows, Durham
* Elm Tree House, Dyfed Powys
* St Mary's SARC, Greater Manchester
* Laburnum House, Gwent
* The Treetops Centre, Hampshire
* The Renton Clinic, Kent
* The SAFE Centre, Lancashire
* Juniper Lodge, Leicestershire
* SAFE place, Merseyside
* Haven Paddington, Met, London
* Haven Camberwell, Met, London
* Haven Whitechapel, Met, London
* REACH, Rhona Cross Centre, Northumbria
* REACH, Ellis Fraser Centre, Northumbria
* The Topaz Centre, Nottinghamshire
* Beech Tree Centre, Emily Phipps House, Swansea
* Willow House, South Wales
* Rowan Centre, West Midlands
* New Swindon Sanctuary, Wiltshire