NSW Police encourage sexual violence victims to report ‘your way’ in new campaign

The NSW Police Force has launched a new campaign to raise awareness about the sexual violence reporting options available to victims – which includes anonymous and online reports.

For a victim of sexual violence, making a police report can be daunting and frightening, but a new campaign is putting the power back in victims’ hands, giving them choice in how they report a crime.

The NSW Police Force with the NSW Government has today launched a new campaign to raise awareness about the sexual violence and assaults reporting options available to victims.

Developed by State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad and the Department of Communities and Justice, the campaign informs victims they can report online, anonymously, and without pursuing a criminal investigation.

The NSW Police Force with the NSW Government has launched a new campaign to raise awareness about the sexual violence reporting options available to victims. Supplied by NSW Police Force.

Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty, Commander of the Sex Crimes Squad, said the reporting options put control back into the hands of survivors and victims.

“We want people to know that they can report sexual violence in a way that feels right for them – whether that’s online, anonymously, or through a formal investigation,” she said.

“We understand that reporting sexual violence can be an incredibly daunting process. This campaign is designed to make it clear that survivors have options and that the NSW Police Force is committed to providing empathetic and professional support.”

It follows almost two years of research – involving more than 800 participants – which identified the key barriers victims feel towards reporting sexual violence, including fear of not being believed, concerns about the reporting process, and mistrust in the system.

Labelling sexual violence as “shockingly prevalent” in NSW, the state’s police minister Yasmin Catley said she hoped the campaign would encourage more victims to engage with police.

The new campaign highlights how to report sexual violence and assaults. Supplied by NSW Police Force.

“Everyone deserves to live free from violence and abuse,” she said.

“Police take sexual violence incredibly seriously and this campaign is one piece of a larger effort to support victim/survivors and respond to these insidious crimes.”

Woman’s Safety Commissioner, Hannah Tonkin, said sexual violence was widespread but often unreported, and hoped the campaign would give people a renewed sense of confidence.

“Reporting sexual violence can be both daunting and traumatic, and the overwhelming majority of sexual violence crimes are not reported to police,” she said.

“These new reporting options give victim-survivors greater choice and control, including the opportunity to disclose their experience on a confidential or anonymous basis. It is important for victim-survivors to know that they will be heard and believed, and they will be connected with support services.”

The NSW Police Force said the campaign allowed people to progress to police involvement at their own pace.

For more information head to, http://police.nsw.gov.au/yourway