Reporting sexual abuse anonymously

[delilabell]

Hi,
I don't know if this is the right section for this.
I want to know if I can report historic sexual abuse for it to be kept on file anonymously incase anyone else has or does report the person.
Is this at all possible?
Thank you

Hello
yes, you should be able to do this at your local NHS Sexual assault referral centre or similar. They can take all the details then will pass them on anonymously to the police.
and, hopefully, they will be kind and caring too.

Thank you so so much for replying. So even though it happened a long time ago they'll still do it? And will promise it'll be anonymous

Yes they should offer this, have a look on their website and ring and ask them
before you give any details.
its quite usual for a SARC to do this service.
it’s effectively then ‘intel’ for the police- they can’t make an arrest as it’s anonymous so it’s sort of a ‘victimless crime’ (on paper only!), but the police will contact the SARC if anyone else reports the same person, and the SARC can then contact you if you have allowed that.

Whether it was last year or forty years ago or whenever.

Once I've done it though will it still belong to me or can it just be used. I can't be known to have told about it. I dint even know what rje point is of me reporting it though if I don't want it to be used?

Yes it can be used but it cannot be linked back to you. The SARC will not release your details if you report anonymously.
i guess the point is, if someone else reports, your anonymous report could support them?

Then I can't do it. He will no exactly who I am.

He won’t be informed of your report. It may come to light if someone else reports- then you may be given the option to waive your anonymity so that he can be charged for your experience too.
but you need to do what’s right for you.

I really feel for you and I'm worried about the hold this person still has on you. Have you had any therapy to help you deal with this?

You could have a chat with Rape Crisis. Most of their work is with assaults from long ago. They can go through the options with you, you can be anonymous.

I'm in therapy for it for the first time in 30 years I'm fi ally addressing it. The counsellor os specifically trained but it feels like now I'm talking about it it is happening all over again. I'm remembering things I've not thought of since they happened. It's so so traumatic. And I feel so rage filled against him.

That's to be expected as you're bringing up all of the old content that has been suppressed.
Make sure you have good 'stabilisation' strategies in place - basically making sure your grounding, self-care and wellbeing are being looked after. A lot of people choose to do trauma therapy at a time where they have enough space to process everything again. It's hard work.

Hope you come to the right decision for you.