How to Get a Police Report in NSW: Reporting, Copies and Fees

Report a crime or incident to NSW Police online through the Community Portal or by phone on the Police Assistance Line 131 444, and apply for a copy of a report for an insurance claim (an insurance report) through the Community Portal's dedicated Online Application, not a Government Information (Public Access) Act request.

How to report a crime or incident to NSW Police

For an emergency in progress, call 000. For a non-emergency report, such as a theft, property damage, or an incident that has already happened, NSW Police Force offers online reporting through the Community Portal at portal.police.nsw.gov.au, or by phone through the Police Assistance Line on 131 444. The Community Portal takes online reports of theft, intentional damage or graffiti, and lost property; a theft involving violence or a threat of violence cannot be reported online and needs police attendance or action. A stolen motor vehicle cannot be reported online: call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or go to a police station.

An online report is given a Community Portal reference number as soon as you submit it, and a NSW Police Force Event Number once police review and accept the report. Keep both numbers for any follow-up and for an insurance claim.

Getting a copy of your NSW police report

A copy of a motor vehicle accident or crime incident report for an insurance claim, which NSW Police calls an insurance report, is requested through a dedicated Online Application on the Community Portal, not through the general Government Information (Public Access) Act (GIPA) process that applies to most other NSW government records. This pathway operates under the NSW Police Force Privacy Code of Practice, which sets out when and to whom the Force will release a report. A non-refundable application fee applies for each insurance report, paid by credit card through the Community Portal's secure online payment system at the time you apply. NSW Police does not publish the exact current fee on the page describing the process, so confirm the amount on the Community Portal itself before applying.

Requesting a report for an insurance claim

Under the Privacy Code of Practice, NSW Police may supply a motor vehicle accident or crime incident report to an insurance company only in circumstances where a claim has actually been lodged and the report sought relates to that specific claim. Separately, NSW Police may supply a motor vehicle accident report to any person directly involved in the accident, without a claim being lodged. That rule covers motor vehicle accident reports only; the page does not extend it to crime incident reports.

Duty to report a crash to NSW Police

Rule 287 of the Road Rules 2014 (NSW) requires a driver involved in a crash to stop and give their required particulars (name and address, the vehicle owner's name and address, and the registration number) to the other driver, to anyone injured, and to the owner of any damaged property.

The driver must also give those particulars, with an explanation of how the crash happened, to a police officer if anyone is killed or injured, if particulars were not exchanged with everyone entitled to them, if another driver's particulars were not given to the driver, if a vehicle involved is towed or carried away (unless another law provides that the crash does not need to be reported), or if a police officer asks. The deadline is as soon as possible and, except in exceptional circumstances, within 24 hours after the crash. The maximum penalty is 20 penalty units, which is $2,200 at NSW's $110 penalty unit value.

False reports to NSW Police

Knowingly making a false report to a police officer is an offence under section 547B of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), titled Public Mischief. The section applies where a person knowingly makes a false representation to a police officer that an act has been done or will be done, or that an event has occurred or will occur, where that act or event as represented is the kind that calls for an investigation by a police officer. A conviction before the Local Court carries a maximum of 12 months imprisonment, a fine of 50 penalty units, or both. NSW fixed its penalty unit at $110 in 1999 and has not indexed it since, so 50 penalty units currently works out to $5,500.

A separate and considerably harsher offence, section 314 false accusations, applies where a false report names a specific innocent person as having committed a crime, rather than simply describing an event that never happened. That offence carries up to 7 years imprisonment. Do not treat the two as interchangeable: which one applies turns on whether the false report identifies a person or only claims an event took place.

Support for victims of crime in NSW

Victims Services, part of the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, supports victims of crime. Its Victims Access Line is 1800 633 063 and its Aboriginal Contact Line is 1800 019 123, both open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, excluding public holidays.

Other NSW records: not the same as a police report

A police report documents a specific incident, such as a crash, theft, or crime you reported. That is a different product from a police check, which searches a person's criminal history for background-screening purposes; see our NSW police check guide if a criminal history check is what you actually need. If the Community Portal process above does not cover your situation, the formal fallback is a Government Information (Public Access) Act (GIPA) application; see our NSW GIPA guide for how that process works. For how reporting and record requests work in other Australian states and territories, see our police reports hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a copy of a police report in NSW?

Apply through the Online Application on the NSW Police Force Community Portal, which NSW Police describes as the application for an insurance report. This is a dedicated process governed by the Privacy Code of Practice, separate from a Government Information (Public Access) Act (GIPA) request.

Is there a fee for a copy of a NSW police report?

Yes. A non-refundable application fee applies for each insurance report, paid by credit card through the Community Portal at the time of application. Check the Community Portal for the current amount before applying.

Can I request my police report before I lodge an insurance claim?

For a motor vehicle accident report, yes: NSW Police may supply it to a person directly involved in the accident without a claim being lodged. NSW Police releases a report to an insurance company only once a claim has been lodged and the report relates to that claim.

Do I have to report a car crash to police in NSW?

Yes, in some cases. Under rule 287 of the Road Rules 2014, a driver must give their particulars to police as soon as possible and, except in exceptional circumstances, within 24 hours if anyone is killed or injured, particulars were not exchanged, a vehicle is towed away (unless another law says that crash does not need to be reported), or a police officer asks. The maximum penalty is 20 penalty units ($2,200).

What happens if I make a false report to NSW Police?

Knowingly making a false report is Public Mischief under section 547B of the Crimes Act 1900, carrying up to 12 months imprisonment, a fine of 50 penalty units, or both. Falsely naming a specific innocent person is the separate, harsher offence of false accusations under section 314, carrying up to 7 years imprisonment.

What is the difference between a police report and a police check in NSW?

A police report documents a specific incident you reported, such as a crash or theft. A police check searches a person's criminal history for background-screening purposes and is a different product entirely.