NSW POLICE FORCE -Community Portal
Sexual assault reporting option
If you are 16 years or older and do not want to speak directly with a police officer, but you want the police to know you have been sexually assaulted you can complete the online Sexual Assault Reporting Option (SARO) through the community portal. Information received via the SARO is treated with the utmost confidentiality and recorded on a secure and restricted NSW Police Force database.
This SARO has three pages:
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- Page 1 seeks information about the person making the disclosure. You will have the opportunity to remain anonymous, provide your details but request no engagement from police, or ask police to contact you.
- Page 2 seeks information about the person who hurt you. If you do not know the offender/s or do not want to disclose the offender/s name you will be asked to describe the offender.
- Page 3 seeks information about what happened to you, and you will be asked to describe what happened in your own words.
The online form will ask you for specific information about you, the offender and the offence. While some questions may seem personal or unrelated to your experience the information may help identify repeat offenders and assist police in developing strategies to protect vulnerable communities. All responses to questions are optional.
We understand that completing this questionnaire may be difficult for you as you are being asked to remember, in some detail, what happened. 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.
When you are planning to complete the questionnaire, try and do it in a place where you feel safe and have some privacy. If you would like to contact a counsellor, or any other form of support call the Victims Access Line on 1800 633 063 or Full Stop Australia 1800 385 578. A trained counsellor can discuss your needs and refer you to someone who can help.
A SARO questionnaire is different from making a formal report to police and it will not initiate a criminal investigation. The primary purposes of a SARO is to make a record of what occurred, in addition to allowing the NSW Police Force to gather information on sexual offences and offending.
If at any stage, you wish to make a formal complaint please contact your nearest police station.
Sexual Assault Services
Sexual assault is a serious crime that can impact anybody. NSW Police Force understands that reporting sexual assault can be distressing and traumatic. Experienced investigators can explain all available options to you then take your statement if you wish to formally report the matter.
NSW Police Force understand that not all people want the incident to be formally investigated; however, police strongly encourage victims and witnesses to report sexual assault. The police can also organise extra support including medical care and counselling for victims through a range of government and non-government agencies.
http://portal.police.nsw.gov.au/adultsexualassault/s/?language=en_US
Angii Higgins Clinical Nurse Specialist
Wellbeing & Health In-Reach Nurse (WHIN) Coordinator
Mobile: 0477 365 414 Email: angii.higgins@health.nsw.gov.au
Views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, and are not necessarily the views of NSW Health or any of its entities.
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