4. Reporting a violent act to police

If a report is made to police in reasonable time, and details are provided in the application form about how the crime was reported, FAS will process the application.
If not reported to police, but a statutory declaration about the violent act and reasons for not reporting are provided, and FAS is satisfied that the victim has 'special circumstances' for not reporting, FAS will process the application.
If not reported to police, but a statutory declaration about the violent act and reasons for not reporting is provided, and FAS is not satisfied that the victim has 'special circumstances' for not reporting, FAS must refuse the application.
Download 'Police reporting requirement'

The FAS requires applicants to provide information or evidence in their application form to show that a violent act:

has been reported to police within a reasonable time, or
was not reported to police within a reasonable time, but that the victim can identify ‘special circumstances’ for not reporting the violent act to police.^[2]

If an applicant does not have special circumstances for not reporting, the FAS must refuse the application.

The FAS must also refuse an application if the victim did not assist the police investigation or prosecution unless they have special circumstances.

This section explains what applicants must do to show either:

that the violent act has been reported to police within a reasonable time, or
that they had special circumstances for not reporting the violent act to police or assisting investigative or prosecutorial agencies.

[2] S 31(1)(a) of the Act.

Updated 16 October 2024