The Sexual Assault (Police) Review Report recommends changes to improve system response to sexual crime. It examined 684 sexual assault cases reported to ACT Policing between 1 July 2020 and 31 December 2021 which were not progressed to charge, including those deemed unfounded, uncleared, or withdrawn.
The report makes 28 recommendations including the establishment of an ongoing review mechanism for sexual assault cases, changes in ACT Policing processes, and the establishment of specialist roles within the criminal justice system including sexual violence advocates and specialist advisers within ACT Policing.
A detailed response from the ACT Government will be delivered in August 2024, following work with victim-survivors, services, and other stakeholders.
In the interim, the ACT Government is providing immediate funding of $380,000 to Victim Support ACT and the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre to improve the availability of supports for victim-survivors.
Operation Foster, ACT Policing's dedicated reinvestigations team will be continued to ensure that all cases that were subject to the Review are addressed as a priority. They will do this adopting a best practice multidisciplinary approach with Victim Support ACT.
The Report is in response to recommendation 15 of the 2021 Listen. Take Action to Prevent, Believe and Heal Report.
The Sexual Assault (Police) Review Report is available online.
As stated by Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury:
"I am grateful to the victim-survivors who so honestly and generously shared their experience with the Government, as well as the analysis and expertise brought by the report's authors. They have helped us to identify which parts of the criminal justice system need to improve, and we will continue to act on their feedback.
As the report says, this work presents a significant opportunity for the ACT Government to implement reform, drive meaningful change for victim-survivors and to continue to build community trust in ACT justice agencies."
Support Services Contacts
Local supports
Canberra Rape Crisis Centre
Who: Anyone impacted by sexual violence
