Information for people who have been raped or sexually assaulted

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A Forensic Medical Examination (FME) is a medical examination that can be performed after a person has been raped or sexually assaulted.

An FME is carried out by a healthcare professional at a Sexual Assault Response Co-ordination Service (SARCS).

Its purpose is to collect evidence that can be used to help identify the person who carried out the assault, if you decide to report it to the police.

It is a confidential NHS service and the police will not be informed unless you decide to report the crime. An FME can be carried out regardless of your gender.

If you’ve been raped or sexually assaulted you can self-refer to Sexual Assault Response Co-ordination Services (SARCS) by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Once you complete your self-referral, a healthcare professional at the SARCS will phone you back to discuss and arrange your care.

You can phone the sexual assault self-referral phone service on 0800 148 88 88. Calls are free from landlines and mobiles.

You can find more information on SARCS here.

If you do report it to the police, they will arrange for the FME if required.

A self-referral without a police report can only be made if you are over the age of 16. If you are younger than 16, then it is a legal requirement for police to be notified.

An FME can only be carried out if the assault has happened in the last 7 days – an FME will not be conducted if it is deemed unnecessary, or if the team know it will not gather any evidence.

The ‘peak’ timeframe for an FME to be conducted is within 3 days, but 7 days is the latest time when one can be carried out. It is also requested that you try not to wash/shower or change clothes before the examination, as this ensures the most accurate evidence. But this is not essential, and the FME can still be carried out if you have washed.

Depending on the circumstances, you may be asked to bring clothing worn during the incident, a used condom/condom wrapper, or any sanitary products that were being used at the time of the incident.

The FME is carried out by a specially trained doctor or nurse. It is usually female practitioners who carry out the examination, but a male practitioner can be requested if this makes you more comfortable.

The appointment usually lasts around 2-3 hours.

Before the examination is carried out, the team will:

  • Ask you what has happened
  • Ensure you are safe
  • Confirm your details (they will confirm this a few times throughout the visit)
  • Provide a full description of exactly what is going to happen during the visit
  • Explain what support is available, whether that be through the SARCS facility or with a partner agency.

At the appointment, the staff will meet you and make sure you are comfortable. You can bring someone with you, but for sanitation reasons they cannot come into the FME room.

If you have decided to report it to the police, then police officers will be in the room when the FME is being conducted, but they will be behind a curtain to ensure your privacy. They cannot see what is happening and are only there to collect samples.

The FME itself can include DNA samples being taken using cotton swabs. These can be from injuries, but also from an intimate examination of where the assault has occurred.

If it is deemed necessary, and consent is given, photographs may be taken - but this is mainly of physical injuries as these can be submitted as evidence.

The staff will also make it clear that you are in control of the process, and you can take as many breaks as you need.

If police officers have accompanied you for the visit, samples are taken away by the police after the exam.

Samples will be kept for 26 months. If you have not done so already, this allows time for you to decide if you would like to report the crime to the police.

To avoid re-traumatisation, the SARCS will not contact you toward the end of this period. So, if they have not had any contact from you within 26 months, they evidence will be destroyed.

If you decide to make a police report, you can either contact the centre to make them aware or inform the police that an FME was conducted. The police will then get in touch with the centre to arrange collection of the samples.

After the examination, you can have a shower and will be given a self-care package containing shower gel, shampoo and conditioner. You will also be offered a change of clothes if you want something more comfortable to wear or haven’t brought another set of clothes with you.

The team can offer:

  • Prescribing emergency contraception if needed.
  • Sexual health screening to check for any sexually transmitted infections caused by the assault.
  • If needed, post-exposure prophylaxis to reduce the risk of HIV infection where appropriate.

As the results of a sexual health screening are not instant, you will be referred for a follow-up appointment at your GP or local sexual health clinic.

The team will also offer ongoing support. However, they cannot access counselling if the assault happened over 30 days ago. In which case, they would signpost or make a referral to another organisation who can provide ongoing support on their behalf (such as Victim Support Scotland or Rape Crisis Scotland).

SARCS stands for Sexual Assault Response Co-ordination Service (SARCS). This is a dedicated NHS service specialising in caring for people who have been raped or sexually assaulted

The information shared here has been kindly provided by Archway Glasgow, which is a SARCS.

The core forensic medical examination process is the same all across Scotland, as SARCS operates within a national framework governed by Scottish legislation and use clinicians trained in sexual offence examinations.

This ensures that each victim receives the same standard of trauma-informed care regardless of which SARCS they visit.

The layout and facilities of each centre may differ. The availability of certain specialists may also differ between centres.

There are other Sexual Assault Response Co-ordination Service (SARCS) centres currently operating in Scotland:

  • The Willows, Ayrshire (NHS Ayrshire and Arran)
  • The Dunnock Suite, Lanarkshire (NHS Lanarkshire)

In addition, SARCS services are available across the rest of Scotland through the regional NHS boards, including:

  • NHS Lothian (Edinburgh)
  • NHS Fife
  • NHS Tayside (Dundee)
  • NHS Grampian (Aberdeen)
  • NHS Highland (Inverness)
  • NHS Forth Valley (Stirling area)
  • NHS Borders
  • NHS Orkney
  • NHS Shetland
  • NHS Western Isles (Na h-Eileanan Siar)

You don’t need a GP or other healthcare professional to refer you to a SARCS, you can do this yourself.

You can find out more about SARCS services on this website: Help after a rape or sexual assault | NHS inform

If you have been impacted by any type of crime, Victim Support Scotland is here for you.

Our support is free, independent and confidential, and you don’t need to report the crime to police to receive our support. We can provide emotional support, practical advice, and financial support, through our Emergency Assistance Fund, if you are eligible.

You can request support by filling out a form on our website, calling our helpline or messaging out webchat:

  • Helpline: 0800 160 1985 (Monday – Friday: 8am – 8pm / Saturday – Sunday: 10am – 4pm)