Résumé
"Sexual offences are some of the most serious and devastating crimes in our community and can have long lasting
impacts on their victims.
Sexual offences affect all pockets of society and generally remain hidden from view. Sadly, many people who experience
sexual crime know their perpetrator and face a complex set of barriers in reporting their experiences to police.
Victoria Police has come a long way in improving responses to sexual offences.
We have transitioned to a specialist model of investigation, through our Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation
Teams (SOCITs), where specially selected and trained detectives are dedicated to investigating these crimes.
We continue to improve our responses through world-class education and training and collaborative partnerships.
We are a key partner in Multi-Disciplinary Centres, where we work from a single location alongside staff from Centres Against
Sexual Assault, DHHS-Child Protection and other partners to provide victims a coordinated and comprehensive response.
Our response has been strengthened through organisation-wide commitments to improving service delivery including the
Future Directions for Victim-Centric Policing and the Accessibility Action Plan. These commitments focus on improved experiences
and outcomes for all victims and increased access to our services particularly for vulnerable members of our community
including those with disabilities.
We understand the difficulties and the barriers faced by the diverse communities we serve, which may prevent victims
telling us about their experience.
Regardless of whether their experience is recent or historical, victims are encouraged to speak with our specialist detectives
who can help in many ways. Even if the person does not wish for an official police investigation to commence, we can provide
information, options and support at any time.
The Code outlines the need to provide not only a criminal investigation but also to link victims with support services and
to assist them to remain safe. Importantly, it recognises that we can not do this alone; our best chance to respond to
and prevent these crimes is to work with our partner agencies.
I encourage all police members to familiarise themselves with the Code and remember that the way we respond to victims
has a significant impact on their confidence to report their experience and continue to engage with us.
Although we have made significant strides in the right direction, there is still a way to go. Sexual offences are never acceptable
and I am proud to lead an organisation that is committed to taking action on these most insidious crimes."--Foreword.