Police address sexual violence

NEW South Wales Police Force has launched ‘Operation Vest’ to give victims of sexual violence and misconduct more opportunity to report assault, seek justice and access support services.

The state-wide operation comes as a response to a public petition detailing thousands of stories of sexual violence and misconduct within the New South Wales community.

Operation Vest will be coordinated by the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad, who will work closely with local police commands throughout the state and with permission from victims, pursue criminal investigations on their behalf.

Detective Superintendent Stacey Maloney, Commander of the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad, said NSW Police are committed to a framework that supports a victim’s pursuit for justice and ensures they have access to appropriate support services.

“We want you to know that if you share your story with us, we will listen to you and if you decide to pursue legal action, immediately or anytime thereafter, we will stand by your side through that process,” Det Supt Maloney said.

“Re-telling your story means reliving your trauma . . .we must acknowledge the courage it takes victims of sexual violence to come forward and tell their stories,” she said.

NSW Police will not pursue a criminal investigation through to the court process without gaining permission by way of a formal statement.

If victims do not wish to pursue criminal investigations, reports still inform police of a potential offender in the community, which will enable investigators to be aware of their potential threat and assist with future investigations.

“We certainly encourage victims of sexual violence to come forward and report their matters, as their assault may not be isolated,” Det Supt Maloney said.

“Your matter may be connected to other incidents of sexual violence and provide investigators with additional information to prevent perpetrators from reoffending,” she said.

The preferred formal reporting methods are:

1. If the sexual assault has just happened, call Triple Zero and police will come to you;
2. You can telephone your local police station and make an appointment to speak to police at a time suitable for you;
3. You can attend your local police station;
4. If you live outside NSW, attend your local police station and make a report. Those police will organise for your case to be transferred to NSW;
5. You can call Crime Stoppers on  1800 333 000.

If a person does not want to formally report or have their matter investigated, they can use the Sexual Assault Reporting Option (SARO).

SARO is an online questionnaire which enables victims to share their story without formally reporting the matter to police or initiating a criminal investigation.

The questionnaire can be completed anonymously and the information gathered may be used to help police develop strategies which target offenders and reduce repeat offending.

“We understand that completing this questionnaire may be difficult for victims as they are being asked to remember, in some detail, what happened,” Det Supt Maloney said.

“For victims, if you are seeing a counsellor, it may be useful to talk with them before filling it in so you can prepare a few helpful strategies, such as completing the questionnaire in a place where you feel safe and have some privacy,” she said.

If the SARO report relates to a child or young person under the age of 18 years old, NSW Police must notify Community Services through the Child Protection Helpline.

NSW Police are a mandatory reporter, which is a body or organisation that is required to report all risks of significant harm to children in NSW to Community Services.

For more information on SARO please click here.

If you or someone you know is seeking further support, please contact the Victims Access Line on 1800 633 063 or Rape Crisis on 1800 424 017.