Early Evidence

Early Evidence is usually taken with the assistance of an Early Evidence Kit (EEK).

An easy to use kit, containing full instructions, it is designed to take a urine sample and a mouth rinse from the complainant of sexual assault as soon as possible. This not only preserves evidence which may be lost with the passing of time, but also removes any unnecessary discomfort for the complainant whilst a full forensic medical examination is awaited.

An early urine sample may increase the chances of detecting drugs and/or alcohol that may have been used to facilitate a sexual assault. The mouth rinse sample may detect vital evidence where oral penetration has been alleged.

If you are a professional within a health agency and wish to explore the opportunity of storing Early Evidence Kits (EEKS) on site, please call 08548 12-12-12.

How you can help

You can help to retrieve as much evidence as possible by asking your patient not to:

Wash
Brush their teeth
Have a cigarette
Eat or drink
Chang their clothes (or keep them safely to one side)
Try not go to the toilet and not dispose of any sanitary wear
Not clear up anything from the area of the incident.

Don't worry if your client has already done some of these things. It is quite possible that there is still evidence to collect as well as injuries that can be documented.  If more than 24-48 hours has passed, it is likely that your patient has done all of these things.  Don't worry - DNA can still be found days later.  It is still worth reporting to the police or the local Sexual Assault Referral Centre.