Darlington has become the first town in the region to develop a new type of suite for the victims of sex crimes.

Two special rooms have been made available at a new medical practice where complainants or vulnerable witnesses can get sympathetic and confidential care.

And when another suite comes on stream in 2006, Darlington will have the latest in such facilities.

"This is a huge step forward," said Insp Stuart Exley, project manager for victim and witness care with the Durham police force.

Along with partners, the force is rolling out a £400,000 scheme which will cover the Darlington and Durham area.

The Darlington development has even been introduced ahead of schedule thanks to the relocation of a well-known doctors' surgery.

The special suite is at the Blacketts Medical Practice in Bondgate - home of the former Netherlaw Surgery which moved to purpose-built premises late last year.

Practice partner Dr Susan Waterworth was already heavily involved in work on sex offence examinations.

So it was decided to incorporate the suite into plans for the new practice. Police, doctors and social services can now use the facilities out of hours.

The suite is DNA-compliant so that vital evidence can be obtained in safe conditions.

The aim is to link up the county's six primary care trusts with social service departments to set up the jointly-funded victim suites.

"We will have acute sex assault examination facilities, of which Darlington's is the first," said Insp Exley. "Dr Waterworth was already arranging this as part of the relocation and we needed a suitable site."

Blacketts is part of a wider approach. Also planned for Darlington is a video interview suite at the Park Place surgery which is being developed and should be ready in 2006.

This will be used for interviews and to take evidence of injuries and such for evidence.

"With both these suites operating, there will be no need to take victims to police stations," said Insp Exley.

Rape Crisis and Victim Support will also be able to access the service and there will be a link-up with Darlington Memorial Hospital.

A sister suite at Meadowfield near Durham will have all these facilities on one site.

"When this happens we can guarantee that no-one will have to travel for more than 30 minutes for interview and examination," said Insp Exley.

The development ends a two-year hiatus in Darlington during which time sex assault victims were taken to a gynaecological ward at the Memorial. This was often unsatisfactory for privacy and useless for male victims.

It had become necessary when previous facilities were lost as the old people's homes where they were sited closed down.

"So there was a huge need for something like this new suite," said Dr Waterworth.

* Helping victims through the trauma: page 8.