Victims of crime

Victoria Police will act to protect and support all victims of crime. We will investigate, offer advice and connect you to support services who can help.

If you are in immediate danger or it's an emergency, call Triple Zero 000.

About victims of crime

If you have been harmed by or have witnessed an unlawful act, you are a victim of crime.

The harm can be:

physical
mental
emotional
financial

You may have witnessed a crime or be a family member of an injured person. If this has caused you emotional distress, you can also be considered a victim of crime.

We have an obligation to treat victims and persons impacted by crime in line with the principles outlined in the Victims Charter Act 2006.

How we support victims of crime

The victim is at the centre of our approach. We aim to provide you with the service that works for you.

Victims of crime support services

There are a wide range of support services available to victims of crime. These services offer help with things like:

reporting a crime
your rights, safety and wellbeing
linking you with other suitable support services
explaining the justice process
getting legal advice
preparing a Victim Impact Statement
getting you ready for court
applying for financial help and compensation

We can connect you with the following supporting services and resources:

1800 819 817 | 7 days, 8am - 11pm
Text only: 0427 767 891 | 7 days, 8am - 11pm
Victims of Crime Helpline is a free telephone service. It provides on-the-spot support and advice to people affected by crime.
The helpline can help you with advice on:
- reporting a crime
- the court process
- applying for compensation and financial help
- other services that can help you.
For further information and support visit Victims of Crime website.
The Victims Assistance Program (VAP) provides free services to victims of violent crime.
The services support the victims’ needs based on the trauma they experienced. The program also supports witnesses and affected family members.
The VAP worker will ensure they deliver services in a culturally appropriate way.
Services offered include:
- case management
- practical support, including emergency security
- advocacy
- helping you complete your Victim Impact Statement
- connecting you to other services such as legal advice, housing and counselling.
We can connect you to the Victims Assistance Program through our referral system.
You will receive support from a VAP worker closest to your local area.
The Victoria Police e-Referral System (VPeR) is a victim referral system available to people affected by crime.
VPeR referrals can connect you to the type of support that works best for you.
This program is available at any stage of the criminal justice process. You can speak to a police officer whenever you are ready to opt in.
A support agency will call you shortly after the referral. It may be from a private or unknown phone number. The agency will generally call you at least three times before closing your referral. If you don't receive a call from a support agency, please contact the referring police officer.
Victim Impact Statements tell the court in a victim's own words how they have been affected by crime.
If someone pleads guilty or is found guilty of a crime, you can choose if you want to tell the court about how the crime has affected you.
The court will take your Victim Impact Statement into account when deciding what penalty to give the offender.
For more information visit the Victims of Crime Victoria website.
Victims of violent crime in Victoria can apply to go on the Victorian Victims Register.
This service can provide you with updates about the offenders, such as:
- their sentence
- when they are:
  - released on parole
  - released into the community at end of sentence or
  - placed on a supervision or detention order.
The offenders will not know if you go on the register or get information about them.
You can also get this information if a family member has died because of a crime.
If you wish, you can choose another person (a nominee) to receive this information on your behalf.
To find out more or go on the register visit the Victorian Victims Register website.

Victims of crime website

The Victims of Crime website is a service offering free information and support for people affected by crime.

They can help you report a crime, provide information about the court process or get help to keep you safe.

Find out more on the Victims of Crime website.

Report a crime

If you have seen or experienced crime, you should report it to Victoria Police as soon as possible.

We understand that you might be worried or afraid to report a crime. We can talk to you about how to report a crime without making a formal statement.

If you are upset or anxious about reporting a crime, you can have a trusted person with you for support.

You can report a crime as follows:

In an emergency call Triple Zero (000) for police, ambulance and fire emergencies
Non-urgent crimes
- 24/7 Police Assistance Line 131 444
- Online Reporting service
Find your local police station
Crime Stoppers - Anonymously report a crime online or by calling 1800 333 000

You can also contact Victims of Crime Helpline on 1800 819 817 between 8am and 11pm for support and advice.

For more options on reporting different types of crime or if you need help getting in touch, visit our Reporting an incident or a crime page.

What to expect once you report a crime

As a victim of crime, we will treat you with courtesy, dignity and respect.

You can expect us to:

explain the investigation process to you in a way you can understand and prefer
inform you of your entitlements and the services available to support you
ask you if you want to stay informed about the progress of your case
ask how you would like us to contact you
recommend and refer you to support services if you need them
provide you with:
- Notice to Victim (L1 Victoria Police form). It has information about support services and the name of the police officer in charge.
- A Victim’s Guide to Support Services and the Criminal Justice System (Victim’s Guide).

Your legal rights as a victim of crime

If you are a victim of crime in Victoria, you have legal rights.

The Victims Charter Act 2006 contains guidelines that promote and protect those rights.

About the Victims Charter Act

The Charter explains how criminal justice agencies should treat victims of crime. It also describes their rights and entitlements.

The Charter recognises the victims have a legitimate interest in the response of the criminal justice system to the crime. It also understands that the victims play a role as participants (but not parties) in criminal proceedings.

The Charter does this by upholding the victim's rights to:

safety
privacy
dignity
and participation.

All justice agencies, including Victoria Police, must:

treat victims with courtesy, respect and dignity
have regard to victims who experience disadvantage
provide information about services, entitlements and help
communicate with the victims in a way that recognises their preferences and needs
protects victims’ personal information.

Victoria Police has specific obligations when communicating with victims of crime. We will:

keep you informed about the progress of the investigation
handle your possessions in a way that is lawful, secure and respectful
return your items as soon as possible.

Complaints as a victim of crime

You might feel that your rights as a victim may not have been respected.

If you believe we have not followed the Victims’ Charter Act 2006, you can lodge a complaint online. You can do it:

anonymously
as yourself
on behalf of another person.

Victims of Crime Commissioner

If you haven't been able to resolve the matter with us directly, you may complain to the Victims of Crime Commissioner.

You can find more information about Victims’ Charter Act 2006 on the Victims of Crime Commissioner website..

Crime

Updated 20 December 2023

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