Reporting sexual assault to police
Sexual assault cases are investigated by specialised teams in Victoria Police: Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Teams (SOCIT) or the Sex Crimes Squad.
Making the decision about whether to report sexual assault can feel overwhelming. Being fully informed about what to expect during the legal process will help you to make a decision about how to proceed.
Sexual Assault services can provide counselling, support and advocacy. You never need to feel that you will go through the legal process alone.
Reporting recent sexual assault (within 72 hours)
If you or a member of your family has been sexually abused or assaulted within the past 72 hours, you may be offered a Forensic Medical Examination to collect evidence of the crime.
This process is coordinated between a sexual assault service, the police and the Sexual Offences & Child Abuse Investigation Team.
Reporting sexual abuse that happened a long time ago
There are no time limitations on reporting sexual abuse. This means you can report sexual abuse to the police at any time, no matter how many years ago it occurred.
Further information
For detailed information about reporting sexual assault (including information in Easy English and languages other than English) visit the Victoria Police website.