App helps dob in sex offenders

A NEW app is making it easier for victims to anonymously report sexual assault and harassment – helping to keep track of unsafe areas and serial offending.
Southern Health’s South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault (SECASA) created the Sexual Assault Reporting Anonymously (SARA) app for iPhone, iPad and Android.
SECASA manager Carolyn Worth said people were often unwilling to make a formal report for many reasons but often commented that they’d like to assist other victims by making the details of what happened public.
“We are confident that completing a report via an application or website will be less intimidating that going to a police station and will enable us to track serial offending, unsafe areas and prevent further assaults,” Ms Worth said.
Alternative reporting options are already in use in several states, but not Victoria.
Reporting anonymously can be a useful healing strategy to the survivor and provide important information for police about offending patterns.
Personal data won’t be collected unless the reporter chooses to enter it, and anonymous data will be stored and submitted to police on a regular basis.
To use the application, download it onto your phone or tablet or visit www.sara.org.au.