How to Get a Police Report in the ACT

To report a crime, collision, or property damage in the ACT, call 000 in an emergency, call 131 444 for non-urgent police assistance, or use ACT Policing's online forms for matters like theft and vandalism; to obtain a copy of an existing report for a lawful purpose such as an insurance claim or civil action, request it from ACT Policing's Accident Records or Information Access team under the Australian Federal Police Regulations 2018 fee schedule.

This page covers reporting to ACT Policing and obtaining copies of reports. For an overview of the process across every Australian state and territory, see police reports in Australia.

How to Report to ACT Policing

Call 000 for any emergency, and 131 444 for non-urgent police assistance. ACT Policing's online portal takes non-urgent reports of property and retail theft, lost property, minor property damage and vandalism, dangerous driving (if you have footage and are willing to make a statement), petrol drive-offs and historical sexual assault, and links to the Access Canberra crash report form for collisions. Theft can be reported online by anyone over 13 with a current email address and phone number who is the victim or reporting on the victim's behalf. You receive an acknowledgement and then an assessment outcome within 48 hours; if the report is accepted, the assessment includes an ACT Policing reference number. A theft of a motor vehicle or number plates, property stolen in a burglary, and firearms are still reported on 131 444 or at a police station. Reserve 000 for anything requiring an immediate police response.

Reporting a Crash: the 24 Hour Duty

Rule 287, Duties of driver involved in crash, in the Road Transport (Road Rules) Regulation 2017 (ACT), current as republication R17 effective 3 November 2025, carries a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units ($3,200 at $160 per unit). A driver involved in a crash must stop and give required particulars (at the scene, if practicable), meaning name and an address, phone number or email, the vehicle owner's equivalent details if different, and the registration number or vehicle identification, to any other driver, an injured person, or the owner of damaged property at the scene. Separately, and not conditioned on that first step having failed, the driver must also give those particulars to a police officer or submit them through the ACT's official crash reporting service, as soon as possible and, except in exceptional circumstances, within 24 hours after the crash. The rule applies to any driver involved in a crash and does not set a dollar or injury threshold before it applies.

Getting a Copy of Your ACT Police Report

ACT Policing releases reports only for a valid lawful purpose, such as an insurance claim or civil action. It will not release documents for personal use or filing. It recommends that insurance companies or legal practitioners request the report on behalf of their clients, and it generally will not process a request from an individual unless evidence of legal proceedings is provided or there are other mitigating circumstances. If you need a document for court, a subpoena from the court handling the matter is the alternative.

Report copy fees are set out in Schedule 3 of the Australian Federal Police Regulations 2018 (F2018L01121). This is the current instrument: the earlier Australian Federal Police Regulations 1979 were repealed on 16 August 2018, and the fee table also moved from what had been Schedule 2 to Schedule 3, so a citation to the 1979 Regulations or Schedule 2 is out of date even though several of the dollar figures did not change. Current fees include: a road accident report copy where the accident caused injury or death, $26; a road accident report copy with no injury or death, $15; an incident report copy, $37; a Criminal Offence Report copy, $37; a statement copy, $37; a road accident survey plan, $38; a lost property report copy, $19; and a conviction record search, $21.

Two separate ACT Policing teams handle these requests. Accident Records deals with accidents, burglary, theft, stolen vehicles, and criminal damage. The Information Access Team deals with assault, injury, violence, disputes, and child welfare matters. Processing typically takes around 30 working days, and a financial hardship exemption is available through a questionnaire. A fatality is not handled by Accident Records at all; it is redirected to the ACT Coroners Court. ACT Policing is the community policing arm of the Australian Federal Police, and the AFP handles formal freedom of information requests under the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982. For the ACT Government's own information access scheme, see our ACT Freedom of Information guide.

False Reports to Police

Making a false report to ACT Policing is public mischief under Crimes Act 1900 (ACT) section 396. The maximum penalty is a $2,000 fine, 1 year imprisonment, or both. Giving police information you know is false can also be an offence under section 338 of the Criminal Code 2002 (ACT), with a maximum of 100 penalty units ($16,000 at $160 per unit), 1 year imprisonment, or both. As with any jurisdiction, a report should describe only what actually happened.

Victim Support in the ACT

Victim Support ACT (VSACT), operated under the ACT Human Rights Commission, offers free and confidential counselling, information about reporting to police and going to court, rights advocacy, and help applying for financial assistance. You can contact VSACT directly, and it says you do not need to have reported the crime to police to access most of its services. Under the Victims of Crime Act 1994 (ACT), a person who suffers harm from an offence is a primary victim, and applications for financial assistance under the Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance) Act 2016 (ACT) are decided by the Victims of Crime Commissioner. Contact VSACT on 1800 822 272 or 02 6205 2222.

Police Report vs Police Check in the ACT

A police report is a record of an incident, such as a crash or an act of vandalism, that you reported to ACT Policing. It is different from a National Police Check, a criminal history check typically needed for employment, licensing, or a visa. If a criminal history check is what you actually need, see police checks in the ACT instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a copy of a police report cost in the ACT?

ACT Policing releases a report only for a lawful purpose such as an insurance claim or civil action, and recommends that your insurer or lawyer request it for you. Under the Australian Federal Police Regulations 2018, Schedule 3, a road accident report copy costs $15 with no injury or death or $26 if there was injury or death, an incident report or statement copy costs $37, and a conviction record search costs $21.

How long do I have to report a crash in the ACT?

Rule 287 of the Road Transport (Road Rules) Regulation 2017 (ACT) requires a driver involved in a crash to give required particulars to police, or submit them through the ACT's official crash reporting service, as soon as possible and, except in exceptional circumstances, within 24 hours.

Which ACT Policing team handles my report copy request?

Accident Records handles accidents, burglary, theft, stolen vehicles, and criminal damage. The Information Access Team handles assault, injury, violence, disputes, and child welfare. A fatality is redirected to the ACT Coroners Court.

Is making a false report to police a crime in the ACT?

Yes. The offences include public mischief under Crimes Act 1900 (ACT) section 396, with a maximum penalty of a $2,000 fine, 1 year imprisonment, or both, and giving false or misleading information under section 338 of the Criminal Code 2002 (ACT), with a maximum of 100 penalty units ($16,000), 1 year imprisonment, or both.

Do I need to have reported to police before contacting Victim Support ACT?

Not for most services. Victim Support ACT says you do not need to have reported the crime to police to access most of its services, and you can contact it directly on 1800 822 272 or 02 6205 2222.