THE opinions of victims of sexual violence are being sought through two surveys which have just been launched.

Barry Coppinger, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, and NHS England aim to find out how the area’s sexual violence services are helping victims.

People who have accessed specialist services after experiencing sexual violence are invited to take part, as are professionals working within the sexual violence arena.

Mr Coppinger said: “I’d like to hear from people who have first-hand experience of the sexual violence services in Cleveland and those who are somehow involved in this area of work.

“It’s important we listen to victims when making decisions about future provision, to ensure services continue to effectively meet their needs.”

The questionnaires are part of a joint commissioning process by the PCC and NHS England for the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) and Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) provision for victims of sexual abuse across the Cleveland area.

If you are have accessed sexual violence services in Cleveland, you can fill out an anonymous short survey at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NRFZ8HL