Australian Capital Territory Current Acts

VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT 1994 - SECT 16A

    (1)     If a police officer is investigating a relevant offence, the chief police officer must give a victim of the offence an update about the status of the investigation—

        (a)     as soon as practicable after a change in the status of the investigation; and

        (b)     at least every 6 weeks.

    (2)     However, if the victim wishes to be updated less frequently, the chief police officer may update the victim at another time agreed between the chief police officer and the victim.

    (3)     Also, if the chief police officer considers that giving the victim an update about the status of the investigation would prejudice the investigation, the matter generally or any other investigation, the chief police officer—

        (a)     must not tell the victim about the status of the investigation; but

        (b)     must tell the victim as much as possible about the progress of the investigation.

    (4)     In this section:

"change in status of an investigation", for an offence, includes when police decide to—

        (a)     charge a person with the offence; or

        (b)     issue a warrant for the arrest of a person accused of committing the offence.

"relevant offence" means—

        (a)     an indictable offence; or

        (b)     any other offence in relation to which the victim has asked the chief police officer to update the victim about the status of the investigation.