EXCLUSIVE: Fife Rape and Sexual Assault Centre forced to close waiting list

Forth News can reveal Fife Rape and Sexual Assault Centre is facing "crisis" as it struggles to deal with demand.

The centre, based in Kirkcaldy, has been forced to close its waiting list - which is currently sitting at 12 months long.

Bosses at the centre are also considering cutting counselling hours if more funding does not become available.

It comes after recent high-profile sexual misconduct cases and the popularity of the #MeToo campaign movement.

Mairi McAllister, Assistant Manager, says: "I do all the initial assessments and it's been really difficult cause every time I go out to do one I've known that I'll be saying to someone that they were going to have to wait.

"It's not acceptable for me, as a worker, having to tell someone who has had the courage to come forward and say I want support, to then be told they can't have it.

"We've never been this busy before, it's grown exponentially over the years. It was crisis point, it really was crisis point. There were 90 people sitting waiting.

"We've been told we're facing a cut to the funding we already get for next year. It's not how we want it to be."