New custody arrangement hoped to improve investigations into sexual assault

Saturday 06 January 2024

Forensic investigations are hoped to improve due to the specialist sexual assault centre and the new custody healthcare contract – which has been confirmed as being a saving compared to the previous provider.

UK-based PHL Group was awarded the contract to provide forensic medical services at the island’s custody suite after the previous provider, local firm Healthcare Group withdrew at the end of 2023.

After a law enforcement spokesperson initially declined to tell Express whether the new contract represented a saving or not – due to commercial sensitivity – Law Enforcement boss Ruari Hardy said: “I can confirm that it is being provided at a lesser cost than the previous contract."

While there are set up costs for this year and next year, he said the new arrangement is “more beneficial” to the taxpayer than it was with Healthcare Group.

“As Head of Law Enforcement, it's my responsibility to ensure that the right services are delivered to our community in the best possible way.

“This healthcare contract is a new approach and we're approaching healthcare in a different way. So rather than having a doctor led service, we're having a healthcare professional led service, which is experienced paramedics and nurses with the appropriate training and guidance and under the governance of a UK supplier.”

He said regardless of the financial details, the contract is fundamental to “keeping some of the most vulnerable people in our community safe and looking after them when they're in our care. 

“An individual’s health needs can be looked at holistically.”

Pictured: New services now available are hoped to provide more robust criminal investigations in sexual violence cases.

The custody healthcare team give medical assistance, assess whether individuals are fit for interview or require additional support.

PHL have promised to enhance the service locally: “One of the things that the new contractor has really looked at is about working with other health care providers and pathways for referral,” Mr Hardy said. 

An area that Mr Hardy says will see significant improvement is in the forensic investigation of sexual crimes as the new Sexual Assault Referral Centre – known as Willow House which became fully operational this year – will absorb the responsibility for gathering evidence from victims.

PHL will focus solely on the forensic management of suspects in custody.

“Up until January 1 we had one healthcare provider dealing with the suspect side of forensic engagement as well as a victim side of forensic engagement - we took steps to mitigate any cross-contamination issues - but now, fortunately because of the SARC is now in place there is a separate pathway for forensically addressing the needs of a victim,” Mr Hardy said.

“We now have a far more robust service when it comes to securing and preserving forensic evidence.”

Dr Will Anderson, Forensic Clinical Lead at PHL, said it could potentially assist prosecutors too.

“The clinician will assess the suspect and take relevant forensic samples that have been decided by the crime scene team and that's now completely separate from the victim so there's no risk of cross contamination of DNA because that could potentially be argued in court,” he said.

“So, that will help secure convictions for cases where the DNA is not called into question."

Referrals for those with mental health issues or drug and alcohol problems are also hoped to improve in terms of outcomes and speed under the new arrangement.