Jun 23

Jun 23 Your Rights When Reporting

Reporting your sexual assault to the police can be a daunting and scary process to go through. It’s important to remember:

You are not obligated to report the harm that has happened to you
You do not have to go through this process alone.

If you do choose to make a police report here are some helpful things for you to know...

The cold hard facts

You have the right to be treated with care and respect

You have the right to take a break (e.g. a breather during questions)

You have the right to culturally appropriate support

You have the right to decline provided support, or bring your own support* (unless your support was involved in the incident - e.g., a witness)

You have the right to medical care

You have the right to a trained crisis worker and court support person

You have the right to request a referral to counselling

You have the right to pause or withdraw your report at any time* (unless police deem the offender an extreme risk to public safety)

The grey areas

Reporting to the police is not as straightforward as it might seem on TV.

What you are obligated to during this process is largely dependent on your own circumstances.

This whole process can feel daunting when it is unfamiliar or confusing, so here are some things to keep in mind...

Case by case basis

Every report is different, every case is different. Survivors often require different kinds of action and support. E.g. some survivors might need to have a forensic medical exam (where DNA evidence is taken), while some may not.

You may get asked some uncomfortable questions. The police might need to ask some really uncomfortable questions in order to get as much information as possible to help you. If a question isn’t clear, you can ask police to explain it.

You may be asked “what were you wearing?” ⟶ The answer to this may help police locate you on CCTV.

It’s important to remember that you can give as much or as little information as you need, and you can choose not to answer certain questions. You also get to choose who is in the room with you while you answer questions.

It can take a while…

Once you file a police report it can take a really long time until you hear anything back and there may not be anything to update you on for a while.

While it is not always guaranteed that you will be kept in the loop, you can request to have a contact person who you can get in touch with if you have any questions or concerns.

In the meantime, services such as HELP can provide you with any support you might need.

It good to keep an open line of communication with the police and your local sexual violence support agency.

Do my parents have to know?

It is important to know that the main priority is always you and your safety.

If you are underage, an adult may need to be informed of the risk of the situation - this could be a parent, an older sibling, a relative, or any other legal guardian.

If you are of age and feel safe, you do not need to involve your parents if you don’t want to. However, sometimes police recommend having a ‘safe person’ who is aware of the situation and can provide support during the process.

What if I have a complaint?

You are absolutely within your right to make a complaint at any stage of the police process

When you report a sexual assault to the police, the Crisis Team at Help are contacted to help you throughout the police process. They are also there to report any complaints to the police on your behalf.