You can report a sexual assault whether it has just happened or whether it happened to you a long time ago.  Regardless of whether it is a recent or historic assault, the Police and other specially trained people will help you and your family decide what to do next.

If the matter is urgent or very recent, you can contact the police by dialling 111. You can also ring the local police number listed in the telephone directory and ask the police to come to you, or you can go to your nearest police station and make your complaint. You can take a support person such as a friend or whänau member, or an advocate from a specialist service.

If you would like to talk through making a decision about reporting to the police, you can contact a specialist sexual violence service in your area and ask for information. They can also provide you with a support person to help you through the reporting process. Even if you go to the police, you do not have to make a complaint. The police can discuss the matter with you, including explaining the reporting process and the options and support agencies available. To do this, you should call your local police station and ask for a detective who specialises in sexual violence cases.

On initial contact, the police will take steps to make sure you and any children are safe. Following this they will conduct a preliminary interview and briefly ask you about the circumstances of the offence, where it happened, and details of the offender. If it happened recently, the police may go to the crime scene and collect evidence straight away. If they are going to do this, they will let you know and explain why.

Police will explain the steps they will be taking and the likely timing of each stage of the process. Within a few days of the matter being reported, Police will ask you some more questions to establish what happened, when and where it took place, and details of the offender. This will be more detailed than the preliminary interview that took place on initial contact.

More information is available via the online ‘Information for Victims of Sexual Assault’ brochure.

More information about the police reporting process can be found here: Rape Survivors Legal Guide 2011

WHO CAN APPLY?

Your Victim Support worker, or someone from a specialist sexual violence agency can help you apply.

You will need to complete a very simple form with your contact information and the details of the costs you experienced. Then have your agency support person or Victim Support worker verify it for you, and sign your application.

Download the Sexual Violence Assistance Form or for more information you can contact Victim Support (call 0800 842 846 to find out where you’re nearest office is) or a specialist sexual violence agency.

WHAT CAN YOU GET HELP WITH?

Up to $500 is available to help with the emergency costs incurred immediately after the crime like replacing clothing, emergency accommodation and repairing or replacing damaged property.

WHAT KINDS OF THINGS ARE COVERED BY THE $500 GRANT

• Replacing clothing or personal belongings lost, stolen or damaged during the crime or taken by the Police for their investigation
• Temporary accommodation, childcare or meals, for you and any children in your care, if the crime happened at your home
• Repairs, cleaning or car hire if your car was involved in the crime
• Repairs to your home if it was damaged as a result of the crime
• Any income you lost taking time off work to be interviewed by the Police
• Costs travelling to and from a Police station to report or help with the crime investigation.

These grants are not means-tested.

OTHER ENTITLEMENTS:

In addition to the $500 grant, $100 a day is available for victims/survivors and an unpaid support person to attend the trial. Funding of $300 per day is also available to pay another organisation (like a specialist sexual violence agency) to provide a paid support person if an unpaid support person is not available or suitable. You may also apply for costs involved in traveling to trial or hearings.

There is also a means-tested assistance with other costs like relocation or counselling.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Your Victim Support worker, or someone from a specialist sexual violence agency can help you apply.

You will need to complete a very simple form with your contact information and the details of the costs you experienced. Then have your agency support person or Victim Support worker verify it for you, and sign your application.

Download the form here: Download Sexual Violence Assistance Form

Or for more information you can contact Victim Support (call 0800 842 846 to find out where you’re nearest office is) or contact a specialist agency.

WHAT IF IT GOES WRONG?

If anything goes wrong contact your nearest specialist sexual violence agency and they will work with you to try and sort out any issues you may have.

If you would like to make a complaint you can contact Victim Support directly:
Phone: 0800 842 846
Fax: 04 495 3076
Email:  Nationaloffice@victimsupport.org.nz
Mail: Victim Support
PO Box 3017
Wellington 6140
New Zealand