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Controversial security firm G4S has been appointed to operate two support centres for rape and sex attack victims in the West Midlands.

The company, heavily criticised for failing to meet its security obligations for the London Olympics, will manage sexual assault referral centres on Birmingham’s Castle Vale estate and in Walsall .

The centres will offer a range of support services without victims having to report attacks to the police first.

Trained G4S crisis workers will help man the centres, assisting with medical assessments and providing advice on options and follow-up services.

Gary Green, G4S managing director of forensic medical services, said: “G4S has been providing these kinds of medical services in the UK since 2005 and we are pleased to have been appointed to deliver this service in the West Midlands.

“The firm has worked with the NHS and police to create a service which delivers the very highest standards of care, while helping the police to protect the evidence they may need later to secure a conviction.

“For the first time in the West Midlands, people who come forward to report rape and sexual assaults will have a specially trained advocate focussed solely on their welfare.” The services, which were previously led by police, were commissioned by the Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country NHS Team and the contract with G4S runs for three years.

Wendy Saviour, area director for Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country area team, said: “We are very pleased to be working with G4S to be able to provide people who have experienced a sexual assault with easy access to high quality care.