The ACT Police and Human Rights Commission is striving to improve Canberra’s justice system after it was revealed this year that the ACT has the highest rate of unprosecuted sexual assault cases in Australia.
The Sexual Assault Police Review (SAPR), released in March 2024, examined 684 sexual offence cases between July 2020 and December 2021 that were reported to ACT Policing.
Victim Support ACT (VSACT) Change Manager Ms Allison Munro and her colleagues are determined to better understand the factors behind low progression rates and improve advocacy and support for victim-survivors, noting that only seven per cent of charges were successfully laid in 2021.
“The SAPR found that the reason so few cases progress to prosecution in the ACT is because there is limited investigation of sexual offences,” Ms Munro said.
“The report indicates lack of victim-centred responses and rape myths impacting policing decisions contributed to the high attrition rates.”
Last week Ms Munro attended the US National Centre for Victims of Crime Conference with ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner Ms Heidi Yates, to gain insights into the comprehensive victim rights in America and their enforcement, in the hopes of progressing victim rights in the ACT.
“In several US states, Marsy’s Law has been introduced as a constitutional amendment that grants enforceable rights to victims of crime,” Ms Munro said.
“While the ACT has the most comprehensive legislative charter of victims’ rights it is difficult or impossible for victims to enforce these rights.
“Having enforceable victims’ rights will help us to better balance victim rights with offender rights.”
Mr Alex Malyon, an ACT Policing Spokesperson, said ACT Policing acknowledges the review and its findings, and recognises the need for continuous improvement.
They are confident that a more robust and consistent approach to the handling of sexual assault reports has been implemented since the review period.
“ACT Policing has redeveloped a comprehensive sexual offences investigation training program…[which] undergoes continuous review…to ensure it is meeting the needs of victim-survivors and investigators,” Mr Malyon said.
“We engaged subject matter experts to write our training and engaged with willing victim-survivors to share their lived experience with officers.”
Looking forward, VSACT’s Senior Director Ms Kath Taplin is confident the SAPR’s recommendations will assist ACT Policing and the Human Rights Commission to work towards better justice responses for victim-survivors.
“[Justice agencies] must collaborate to support and implement the SAPR recommendations and improve our joint responses to victim-survivors, including taking action to drive cultural change to prevent sexual violence,” Ms Taplin said.
Learning from the SAPR’s insights, Ms Munro hopes that the ACT’s justice system will provide the best possible justice responses to sexual assault victim-survivors who need and deserve them.