uk Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations

What to do if…
you have just been sexually assaulted and are now somewhere safe

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: 18 July 2026 Last reviewed: 16 August 2026 Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Stay where you are safe and contact the specialist sexual assault service for your part of the UK as soon as you can. Call 999 if danger returns or you need emergency medical help; you can ask for healthcare and support without first deciding whether to report to the police.

Do not do these things

Do not return to or meet the person who assaulted you alone.
Do not confront or message them while you are frightened, shocked or unsure what to do.
Do not force yourself to decide now whether to report what happened.
Do not post details publicly or share them more widely than feels safe.
Do not drive if you feel faint, confused, severely distressed or affected by alcohol or drugs.
Do not blame yourself for freezing, complying, drinking, trusting someone or not resisting.

What to do now

Stay in the safest available place. Keep your phone with you, secure the door if appropriate and avoid sharing your location with the person who assaulted you if that could put you at risk.
Call 999 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have heavy bleeding, difficulty breathing, a serious injury, severe or worsening pain, have passed out or feel your life may be at risk.
Contact the specialist sexual assault service for your nation. In England and Wales this is usually called a Sexual Assault Referral Centre or SARC, in Scotland it is a Sexual Assault Response Co-ordination Service or SARCS, and in Northern Ireland it is the Rowan SARC.
Tell the service about any injuries and ask about emergency contraception, HIV prevention medication, testing or treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and suspected drink or drug spiking. Some medical options and tests may be time-sensitive.
If you may want a forensic medical examination and can manage it, try not to wash or change clothes before getting advice, but you can still get help and still report if you already have.
Contact one trusted person who is likely to respect your choices. Ask them to stay with you, make a call for you or accompany you to a medical service.
Before any examination, ask what will happen and say what you do or do not consent to. You can choose whether to be examined and whether to have only some parts of an examination.
If you choose to contact the police now, call 999 in an emergency or 101 when there is no immediate danger. You do not need to contact the police before seeking specialist healthcare or support.

What can wait

You do not need to decide now about reporting, legal action, relationships, work, housing or what to tell other people. You also do not need to give a complete account, remember every detail or decide what words to use before asking for medical care or specialist support.

Important reassurance

What happened was not your fault. Freezing, complying, being intoxicated, not resisting, having memory gaps or not knowing what to call the experience does not make you responsible for it.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate safety, healthcare and specialist support after a recent sexual assault. Later decisions about reporting, ongoing healthcare or other support may require help from an appropriate specialist.

Important note

This is general information, not medical, legal, forensic, therapeutic or other professional advice. Call 999 if you are in immediate danger or need emergency medical assistance.

Additional Resources

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

Support us