You can report a sexual assault or rape that happened at any time to us, even if this was months, years or decades ago. We take every report seriously, no matter how much time has passed. We understand that there are lots of reasons why someone might delay telling anyone about what has happened. We also know it's common for victims to take time to realise that what has happened is a crime, or for a number of reasons, they may not feel ready to report the incident right away.

To report something that has happened some time ago, please call 01534 612612. The call handler will ask you a few questions to establish how best to help you. A specialist officer will then arrange to visit you, to explain your options about making a formal complaint and how an investigation could proceed. We will do everything we can to gather evidence and build a case against a suspect, no matter how long ago the offending took place.

We put your wishes at the centre of everything we do. If you decide that you do not want to be involved in an investigation or criminal prosecution, making a formal statement to us can still be helpful as it could be used to protect you or others from further harm, identify potential serial perpetrators and build a better understanding of crime. Every report is valuable to us. We will support you throughout the process and will offer you a referral to specialist support and safeguarding.

Alternative reporting options

You can choose to make an anonymous report to us through the Sexual Assault Referral Centre called Dewberry House or the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor service called JDAS, rather than coming directly to us. With no police involvement, doctors at Dewberry House can examine you to check that you are ok and look for DNA evidence, which they will store to support your case. This gives you the option of making a formal police report at a later time if you choose to.