What measures are in place to care for and protect the victims of sexual crimes?

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MHA and SPF continually strengthen our laws and processes to better support victims of sexual crimes. Some of the recent measures that have been put in place include: Reporting of Sexual Crimes • Reporting a sexual crime can be daunting, and we aim to make the process as safe and supportive as possible. All Neighbourhood Police Centres (NPCs) have a dedicated "Sexual Crime Report" option at their queue management kiosks. When selected, individuals reporting sexual crimes will be prioritised and brought to a private area to make their report. • Victims will also have access to trained volunteers known as Victim Care Officers (VCOs) under the Victim Care Cadre Programme (VCCP). These VCOs are trained to provide psychological first aid and crisis intervention support, and will be with victims throughout the criminal justice process. • SPF has a webpage on sexual crime information and had also developed a series of videos to explain the end-to-end processes for handling sexual crimes, with the aim of increasing public awareness and supporting victims through the investigative process. The video explains the reporting, investigation and prosecution processes, as well as victim care measures provided at every stage. It also provides information for youths who wish to seek support or disclose incidents through community partners, such as schools. Pls visit https://www.police.gov.sg/Advisories/Sexual-Crimes/Sexual-Crime for the webpage. Investigation Process • MHA established a legislative framework for the conduct of Forensic Medical Examinations (FMEs). This framework sets out safeguards to ensure that FMEs are conducted safely and sensitively, while empowering SPF to secure valuable forensic evidence with due regard for the safety and dignity of victims during investigations into sexual offences. • To further protect the privacy of victims during investigations, SPF had established the One-Stop Abuse Forensic Examination (OneSAFE) Centre, which was revamped with an expanded capacity and included new medical rooms and a dedicated victim care area. The OneSAFE Centre allows victims to undergo forensic medical examinations and police interviews at the same location, providing greater privacy, convenience and support. • For young victims, SPF uses the Multi-Disciplinary Interviews (MDI) model which integrates forensic medical examination for young victims and reduces the need for victims to recount their traumatic experience to different officers. Long-term Victim Care • Support does not end when the investigation concludes. SPF works with Protection Specialist Centres such as Care Corner Project StART, TRANS SAFE, and PAVE to provide longer term victim support services for the victims. To find out more, please visit: https://www.police.gov.sg/Advisories/Sexual-Crimes/Sexual-Crime https://www.police.gov.sg/-/media/SPF/Advisories/Sexual-Crime-Information-Pamphlet_English.pdf

What measures are in place to care for and protect the victims of sexual crimes?

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