Thames Valley - Solace Centre Sexual Assault Referral Centre, BICESTER

Consultation has concluded

Background

There are two SARC services in the Thames Valley. The current premises are:

  • the Solace Centre, Police House, Queens Ave, Bicester OX26 2NR, and
  • the Solace Centre, Upton Hospital, Church Street, Slough SL1 2BJ

This survey focuses on the SARC premises at the Solace Centre, Bicester, Oxfordshire.

Assessment of current premises

Recently a review of south east SARC services was undertaken in accordance with a standard framework agreed, by NHS England, Police and PCC partners, to ensure that current premises are:

  1. fit for purpose in terms of capacity
  2. what work / upgrades are required to meet new forensic standards and new UKAS accreditation

These new UKAS standards come into effect in October 2023. They include improvements to quality management systems, staff competency, forensic processes, and new accommodation and facilities standards to ensure the integrity of evidence. SARCs not accredited by this date could therefore jeopardise the integrity of the evidence collected if they are not to the appropriate quality standard.

A review of the current premises at Bicester, Oxfordshire, was not suitable for future SARC needs and was not suitable for alteration.

Alternative premises

Several alternative premises were identified as being potentially suitable, based on criteria that the new premises should be:

  • in the proximity of Thames Valley police’s operational teams
  • within the travel time indicators for the main Thames Valley population centres, to ensure local health needs are met

Following assessments of these premises, Unit C8 - C9, Glyme Court, Kidlington, OX5 1LQ, was found to be the only suitable location.

Glyme Court in Kidlington is 9.8 miles (15.7 km) away from the existing Bicester SARC and is typically 15 minutes travel time away.

Kidlington is very well served by buses linking it with a frequent service to Oxford. Two bus companies provide a very high frequency bus service to Oxford, with up to 24 services per hour for much of the day, and eight buses per hour during the evening, with some buses as late as 0300 at the weekend. There are also some local services to surrounding villages.

Oxford Parkway, at Water Eaton, is the nearest train station.

Background

There are two SARC services in the Thames Valley. The current premises are:

  • the Solace Centre, Police House, Queens Ave, Bicester OX26 2NR, and
  • the Solace Centre, Upton Hospital, Church Street, Slough SL1 2BJ

This survey focuses on the SARC premises at the Solace Centre, Bicester, Oxfordshire.

Assessment of current premises

Recently a review of south east SARC services was undertaken in accordance with a standard framework agreed, by NHS England, Police and PCC partners, to ensure that current premises are:

  1. fit for purpose in terms of capacity
  2. what work / upgrades are required to meet new forensic standards and new UKAS accreditation

These new UKAS standards come into effect in October 2023. They include improvements to quality management systems, staff competency, forensic processes, and new accommodation and facilities standards to ensure the integrity of evidence. SARCs not accredited by this date could therefore jeopardise the integrity of the evidence collected if they are not to the appropriate quality standard.

A review of the current premises at Bicester, Oxfordshire, was not suitable for future SARC needs and was not suitable for alteration.

Alternative premises

Several alternative premises were identified as being potentially suitable, based on criteria that the new premises should be:

  • in the proximity of Thames Valley police’s operational teams
  • within the travel time indicators for the main Thames Valley population centres, to ensure local health needs are met

Following assessments of these premises, Unit C8 - C9, Glyme Court, Kidlington, OX5 1LQ, was found to be the only suitable location.

Glyme Court in Kidlington is 9.8 miles (15.7 km) away from the existing Bicester SARC and is typically 15 minutes travel time away.

Kidlington is very well served by buses linking it with a frequent service to Oxford. Two bus companies provide a very high frequency bus service to Oxford, with up to 24 services per hour for much of the day, and eight buses per hour during the evening, with some buses as late as 0300 at the weekend. There are also some local services to surrounding villages.

Oxford Parkway, at Water Eaton, is the nearest train station.