Assistant Commissioner of Police John McLean inspects a toy at the newly renovated offices of the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse in St Andrew yesterday. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

A PLACE for victims of heinous sexual crimes to feel safe while it helps to bring their violators to justice. That is one of the aims of the recent efforts by the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse to realign several of its operations.

Assistant Commissioner of Police John McLean told The Gleaner yesterday, at the unit's Kingston offices, that several staffing and infrastructural changes have occurred which should result in the enhancement of how sexual crimes are detected, investigated and cleared up.

"(Sometimes) the criminal justice system can revictimise people and what we are trying to do is to minimise that trauma," McLean said.

New additions

The renovation of the premises, which cost more than $10 million, sees the unit having separate accommo-dation for staff, private interview rooms, video-recording rooms with equipment to assist both victim and staff, playrooms for children who are victims of abuse, an improved physical examination and meeting rooms, among other things. The space with which the unit was operating has been doubled with the new additions.

McLean said several of theses advances would aid in improving the well-being of victims who have experienced a traumatic event in their lives.

The staff is also being trained in utilising the new video-interviewing equipment which, McLean said, would aid in the gathering of useful evidence.

McLean said simple improvements to the building, such as air conditioning, sturdy chairs and comfy sofas, are all geared towards making victims feel more at ease when recounting horrible memories.

mark.beckford@gleanerjm.com