Help For Rape Victims

Download AWARE’s Rape & Sexual Assault: Fact Sheet On Important Information.

What Should a Rape Victim Do Immediately After the Incident?

1. Where there are injuries, the victim should go immediately to the nearest of the following hospitals:
    
   • KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital,
   • National University Hospital,
   • Singapore General Hospital.

   The other hospitals in Singapore are not equipped to deal with rape cases.

   None of the above hospitals has a police post. Victims may make the police report at the police stations nearest to the respective hospitals.

   The nearest police station at:
   SGH – Police Cantonment Complex at 391 New Bridge Rd.
   NUH – Dover Neighbourhood Police Post at 3 Dover Road
   KKH – Tanglin Police Divisional Headquarters at 21 Kampong Java Rd.

   Where the victim does not want to make a police report, the hospital will not be able to carry out the rape kit procedure. However, the hospital may still treat the victim for her injuries and to test for STDs. Generally, the hospital staff will strongly encourage the victim to make a police report.

   The rape kit procedure should be carried out within the first 72 hours of the incident; the earlier, the better.

2. Where there are no injuries, the victim may prefer to go straight to the police station. After giving the report to the police station, the police will usually ask the victim to go to the hospital. There is no requirement to go to any specific police station.
    
3. The victim should not bathe or shower, wash her hands, change clothes, use the restroom or comb her hair before she undergoes the rape kit procedure in order to preserve evidence of the crime.

Police Procedures

Should a rape victim make a police report?

Ideally, yes, as a crime has been committed and a police report is necessary for the State to take action against the offender and to stop him from striking again.

However, this can understandably be a difficult decision for victims of sexual assault.

Once a report is made, the police are under a duty to investigate to determine whether a crime has taken place. The victim will not be able to stop the police from conducting the investigation. The investigation process itself can be difficult and emotionally exhausting for the victim.

In some cases, seeking justice may help a victim recover from the trauma or be empowering to the victim.

Although making a police report is necessary for the State to take action against the offender, the decision to report the incident is entirely up to the victim. If a rape victim decides to make a police report, she may feel more comfortable bringing a friend or relative with her.

A rape victim may also contact AWARE to arrange for a Befriender to accompany her to the police or court. Contact AWARE’s SABS Helpline 6779 0282 between 10am and 9.30 pm from Monday to Friday to request for a Befriender.

Will the victim’s name be publicised?

If the victim is under 16, the trial will be behind closed doors, in camera. In other cases, it will depend on the court’s discretion.

However, in all cases, the victim’s identity will not be revealed in the media. The perpetrator’s name will only be revealed if it will not lead to identification of the victim.

What happens at the police station?

The victim will have to recount the incident to the police officer who will record the statement. The victim will sign the report and be given a copy of the report. After the report is made, the victim will be advised to go to or be escorted to the hospital.

Victims may request to speak to a female police officer rather than a male officer. However, where the police station does not have a female police officer, the victim may need to travel to another police post or wait for a female police officer to come to the station that she is at.

A victim may also request to speak to officers in a private room in the police station instead of in the common room.

A victim may wish to go straight to a hospital instead of to a police station, especially when she is seriously injured. However she will eventually have to go to a police station for the record of statement.

Where a victim wishes to or is thinking of pressing charges against the offender, she should go through the “rape kit” procedure. In order to get a rape kit however, you will need to first make a police report.

Can a victim who was raped six months ago, report the case to the police?

There is no time limit to make a police report. The delay may, however, lead to the loss of evidence that would hinder the success of prosecuting the offender.

Hospital Procedures

Is it necessary for a Victim to go to the Hospital?

Yes, it is important for the victim to receive medical attention and to be treated for any possible injuries, some of which may not be visible.

It is also important for the victim to be checked for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

And most importantly, if the victim wants the police to take up the case, she will need to get a “rape kit” procedure done within the first 72 hours of the incident.

What is a rape kit?

The rape kit is used to collect DNA and other forensic evidence. It contains things like swabs and bottles to collect samples. The examination can be uncomfortable and invasive.

The hospital conducts the rape kit after the victim has made the police report.

Once the process is carried out, the results of the rape kit will be attached to the police report and sent to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further review.

The rape kit must be administered as soon after the assault as possible and in any case within 72 hours of the assault.

What happens at the hospital?

Generally, the hospital will require the victim to make a police report first before it does rape kit or gives any medical treatment.

However, if the victim does not wish to proceed with the rape kit, the hospital may give the victim medical treatment for her injuries and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and pregnancy without insisting on a police report. This practice may vary from hospital to hospital.

The hospital may also be able to advise the victim on and provide social support services such as counselling and therapy.

Which hospital can a victim go to?

Not all hospitals can handle rape cases. It is advisable to go to either

• KK Women’s &Children’s Hospital,
• National University Hospital (NUH), or
• Singapore General Hospital (SGH).

What happens after the rape kit is done?

After the hospital examination, the case file will be forwarded to the Serious Sexual Crimes Unit (SSCU) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The SSCU will then conduct an investigation where the victim will be contacted and required to participate. This would include providing an account of the incident and answering any questions that the officers may have. The investigation may last anything from a number of days to a few weeks. The police may also require the victim to undergo a lie detector test.

Getting Help

Where can I go for help?

Rape is an extremely traumatic experience.

It is strongly advisable for rape victims to speak to someone about this and better still to receive some counselling or therapy.

AWARE has come across numerous cases where rape victims/survivors seek help many months or even years later as they are plagued by flashbacks or exhibit other symptoms as a result of their not having dealt with the experience earlier.

If you need help, support or information, call the AWARE SABS Helpline at 6779-0282 from Mondays to Fridays, 10am to 9.30pm. The Helpline can also assist you to make an appointment to see the counsellor or to receive support from a Befriender to accompany you to the police and/or hospital.

A Befriender is someone who will accompany a rape victim / survivor to the police, the hospitals or the courts.

All calls and cases will be kept confidential.