Trigger Warning: This article discusses sexual violence.
In an alarming statistic, one in five (equating to 2.2 million) women have experienced sexual violence1 since the age of 15. Although, that statistic is believed to be severely under-reported. Sexual violence is being defined as “any incident involving the occurrence, attempt, or threat of sexual assault”.
However, this statistic is accompanied with the knowledge that over half (57 per cent) of the women sought advice and support following the incident. With most turning to a friend or family member.
But what if, as women, we could turn to the police to report the incident and hopefully find justice? Unfortunately, most women feel fear, shame, and guilt about their sexually violent experience, which makes them hesitant to go to a police station and make a formal report.
And while some women might not ever be ready to share their stories – and that’s completely okay – there is a platform that gives women back their voice, accompanied by the aid of several support groups.
Have your say, your way:
As we enter a new era of openness, women are fighting to have their voices heard. With marches taking place across Australian cities, women are more ready than ever to share their stories, giving us hope that more people will feel comfortable coming forward.
However, we, along with the NSW Police Force, understand that walking into a police station can be completely overwhelming. If you’re not ready to take that step but want to share your story and help the police combat sexually violent crimes, it’s time to consider the Sexual Assault Reporting Option (SARO) platform.
What happened to you wasn’t your choice, but how you report it is. You can choose to make a formal report to be investigated, or you can choose anonymity through the SARO platform. While the anonymous report won’t initiate a criminal investigation, it does provide the NSW Police Force with data that assists them in connecting the dots on other incidents and future investigations.
Sexual Assault Reporting Option (SARO)
The online platform itself offer users two options: fill out a PDF version to be emailed to the NSW Police Force, or using an automated survey-like system.
Within both platforms, there are three main parts. Please note that they will ask detailed questions about the incident, so be prepared and remember you are never alone.
The first section asks for your personal details, such as name, age, and address. Don’t worry, these questions aren’t mandatory, and you can proceed with the report while remaining anonymous. However, it does include a section on whether you wish to be contacted by the police, which you can opt out of at any time.
The next section focuses on the offender. As most sexually violent crimes occur in the home, it’s likely that people filling in the form will be able to answer the questions in detail. These questions include descriptions and age. Note that the NSW Police Force has divided this section into two parts: known offenders and unknown offenders.
The third section is where you provide details of the crime. This can be a confronting slide, especially if you’ve experienced a sexually violent incident. However, providing as much detail as possible is the best way to help the Police move forward.
If you’re looking to make a formal complaint, you can visit your local Police precinct and meet with a skilled staff member who will offer you support, information, and empathy.
Remember, what happened to you doesn’t define you. Take back power and control, and have your say, your way.
It’s never too late to report, and if you need extra support, you can call these support lines.
Extra sources of support include:
Victims Access Line on 1800 633 063
Full Stop Australia 1800 385 578
Lifeline 13 11 14
NSW Sexual Violence Helpline 1800 424 017
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