What should I do if I hear a person has been raped or sexually assaulted?
If you are a professional who has been made aware that a patient or client has been raped or sexual assaulted, whether recent or historic, it is essential that the decision to report the assault or not remains the deeply personal choice of the person who has been raped or assaulted.
If a person is in immediate danger, being assaulted or at high risk of assault or stalking, professionals should immediately call 999.
There may be occasions where what to do can feel less certain and professionals may seek clarity how to respond appropriately. What’s important, is that on hearing about a sexual assault or rape, the person is believed, supported to call the police if they choose to, understand the importance on preserving evidence such as DNA and forensics and that the person is offered support to process the trauma of what has happened.
In some situations, you may be working with a person who is assessed to lack capacity to make decisions about their safety- or you have concerns about ongoing risk of assault - or you may have other safeguarding concerns about a person or people in their care- in such scenarios these risk factors should be explored and reported through your own internal safeguarding policies in the first instance and if you are ever in doubt, call the police.
View and download our guidance sheet for more information.
If the person has given you their consent, you can contact Treetops SARC direct for advice and guidance.
Referrals from Professionals
Treetops SARC welcome referrals from professionals so long as the client has given their consent and is present during your phone call. This is important as our highly trained staff will need to gather information about the assault to help them assess the most suitable next steps based on a number of risk factors including but not limited to; the persons age, their relationship to the person who has assaulted them, the type of assault, the seriousness of any injuries and also how long ago the assault took place.
If a client consents to a referral, professionals are welcome to help support their clients and patients to Treetops SARC if this is requested by the client. We understand how accessing new services can be a barrier for a lot of people particularly when under such traumatic and emotional circumstances.
Timescales for immediate medical care
View our document for information on our timescales for children and adults.
Breaking down barriers
At Treetops SARC it is our mission to improve our accessibility for anyone who has experienced rape or sexual assault. If there is any information or training that would support your team and your clients or patients to understand what we can offer and how we support people, please contact us by phone or email. Building strong connections with our partners is our priority.
We provide:
- Training for professionals and education on sexual assault
- Clinical response to sexual assaults, 365 days a year.
- Forensic evidence collection and documentation for use in prosecution
- Client risk assessments- ongoing safeguarding referrals
- Emotional and psychological support for clients, families and carers
- Advocacy and onwards multi-agency coordination
Together, we can ensure survivors receive the care, validation, and safety they deserve.
As professionals working closely with people facing difficult, sometimes unsafe, situations, it’s essential that we know - and share - tools that can help keep them safe in the moment. Two such tools are the Ask for Angela and Ask for Annie initiatives. These are simple, discreet safety codes that people can use in public places when they feel unsafe or need immediate help.
What is Ask for Angela?
Ask for Angela is a confidential safety initiative used in many bars, clubs, and public venues across the UK. If someone is feeling uncomfortable, unsafe, or threatened - on a date, with a stranger, or in any situation where something doesn’t feel right - they can approach venue staff and “Ask for Angela.”
This quiet request is a code that tells trained staff the person needs help. The staff will then step in to support them - this might mean calling a taxi, separating them from the situation, or involving security or police if needed.
The initiative helps individuals exit potentially harmful situations without needing to explain themselves in front of the person making them feel unsafe. It’s simple. It’s discreet. And it works.
Why this matters:
Many of the people we support - whether they’re experiencing abuse, trauma, exploitation, or are simply vulnerable - might find themselves in public spaces where they feel at risk. Ask for Angela offers a non-judgemental lifeline in those moments.
What is Ask for Annie?
Ask for Annie is a similar initiative, but it is used in pharmacies and some community spaces. If someone is experiencing domestic abuse or coercive control, they can walk into a participating location and “Ask for Annie.”
This signals to staff that the individual is in danger and needs a safe, private space. Specially trained staff can then help connect them with support services, such as domestic abuse charities, safeguarding teams, or the police - depending on what the person needs and wants.
“Annie” stands for “Action Needed Immediately”, but just like Angela, it’s designed to be subtle and safe. No explanations needed in front of an abuser. Just those three words: “Is Annie in today?”
What you can do
As frontline professionals, you are a trusted voice in your community. Whether you are working with survivors, young people, vulnerable adults, or anyone who may spend time in public spaces, please pass this information on.
Let your service users know:
- “If you’re ever in a bar or club and feel unsafe, you can go to the staff and ask for Angela.”
- “If you’re in a pharmacy and need help with domestic abuse, you can ask for Annie.”
This information could be lifesaving.
You can also help by making sure your colleagues, community partners, and local venues know about these initiatives too. The more widely it is known, the safer our public spaces become.
Learn More
For further information, including how venues can sign up and staff can be trained, visit:
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Let us work together to make safety accessible and support visible - wherever people are.
Contrary to common belief, most sexual assaults are not committed by strangers. In fact, the majority happen within existing relationships - often in the context of domestic abuse. Perpetrators are frequently known, trusted, or in positions of power.
Why it matters:
For professionals, it is vital to recognise that survivors may still be in contact with, or dependent on, the person who harmed them. Responses must be trauma-informed, non-judgemental, and focused on safety, choice, and control.
Treetops can provide training to professionals on responding to disclosures of rape or sexual assault. If this is something you are interested in, please do not hesitate to email hiowh.
If you have bespoke training needs, please do not hesitate to contact us and one of the team will be in touch to discuss how we can help you.
If you would like a member of the team to attend one of your team meetings or staff training sessions and talk about our service, this may be something we can facilitate, contact us and we can discuss more.