I am 19. I went out with someone my parents warned me to stay away from and he indecently assaulted me. Now I am embarrassed and scared about what my family will say. What happens if I report the sexual assault to a police authority but I don’t want to press charges?
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Answer by Jo Wilson, Macleod 3085 Vic
- The decision to press or file charges is up to the police.
- However the police have special obligations towards victims of sexual assault and therefore the victim’s wishes and in particular whether the victim wants the matter to proceed will figure very highly in any decision to prosecute.