Sexual crimes, both globally and in Singapore, are severely under-reported. AWARE’s Sexual Assault Care Centre saw an average of 850 cases annually from 2018 to 2021, yet only 3 in 10 clients choose to file a police report. Survivors are often hesitant to report incidences of sexual assault due to the following reasons:
- Not wanting to relive trauma
- Fear of retaliation from the perpetrator
- Not wanting to get the perpetrator in trouble, especially when it’s someone they know (such as a family member)
- Victim-blaming attitudes from their loved ones
- Worry of stigmatisation from larger society
- Concerns about legal processes
Those who are willing to make a police report often face added barriers, which contribute to the under-reporting of sexual crimes:
Missing pieces of information
It is not uncommon for survivors to make a police report months, or even years after the incident has taken place. Survivors may decide to wait until they feel ready to speak about the incident, and could be processing feelings of self-blame or guilt. Some will choose to prioritise their mental well-being and focus on healing after the incident. The time-lapse between the incident and the report, however, may mean that the survivor faces difficulty recalling certain incidents about the assault, which makes conducting police investigations more difficult.
Uncertainty about what constitutes as evidence
Survivors also often worry that they do not have sufficient evidence about the incident, or the perpetrator. This is as many are unsure about what can count as evidence. In addition, survivors may not have recorded pieces of information that may no longer be available when filing a report.
The information on this page can help address the two aforementioned issues.
Keeping a Record of the Incident
Keeping a document of the incident, including details of who was involved, where the incident took place and when it happened can be useful if you decide to take action.
Here is a Microsoft Word template you can use to record salient details about your experience. The document contains prompts to help you remember details you may otherwise forget, especially when a significant amount of time has passed between the incident and the date of reporting.
You do not have to fill in everything in one go. Be sure to take breaks when necessary and come back to the document when you are feeling better. It is also normal not to remember everything immediately.
If you are currently seeking support from a professional, you can choose to address any concerns you have, or your reactions when filling in this document. Things may come to memory after you have finished documenting your experience. In that case, you can always make edits and add new information later on.
Remember that reporting the incident is your choice. Should you do so, this document can be shown to the relevant authorities. Additionally, if you are not comfortable verbally communicating your experience, the document can be shared with the police, lawyers or social service professionals.
If you have experienced sexual assault involving penetration in the last 72 hours, refer to this page instead for more comprehensive information on what you can do to preserve evidence. If you have questions about your experience or concerns regarding police reporting process, you can get in touch with us. You can link this to the Get in touch page
Disclaimers
- This written document is not mandatory or officially issued. SACC is not a reporting agency. The purpose of this is for you to have a personal record of the incident. While the document can be used in the future (e.g. reporting to HR or local authorities), you can also choose to keep its contents private.
- It is important to only include details that you are sure of, and that you are comfortable and willing to share. Please note that if you decide to use this document for reporting purposes, the discrepancies between your personal records and the statement given to the authorities may have legal implications.
