PLANS to develop a new centre which will offer support and advice for victims of sex crimes in North Yorkshire have been approved.

North Yorkshire Police is to improve its existing facility in the Bishopthorpe area of York so it meets some of the requirements of a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC).

The lack of such a centre in the region has been described by one North Yorkshire MP as “unacceptable”, and the force says it will also look to improve its existing arrangements for victims who may find it difficult to get to the York facility.

The scheme will cost £196,525. Part of this will be funded through services currently provided by the police, which means £126,775 will have to be found.

Earlier this year, Thirsk and Malton MP Anne McIntosh called for a specialist SARC service to be funded in North Yorkshire and asked Home Secretary Theresa May, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley and Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke to look into the issue.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Raw, North Yorkshire Police’s head of major and specialist crime, said: “We are very pleased that funding has been made available to provide more support and services for victims of one of the most traumatic and distressing of crimes.”