Can and should police tell victim-survivors ‘I believe you’ during sexual offence investigations?

It is well-established that victim-survivors value feeling believed when they report sexual violence, yet there is often confusion about whether police can express belief in victim-survivors’ accounts. In this article, we seek to provide clarification regarding the communication of belief to victim-survivors during sexual offence investigations. We focus on the jurisdiction of Victoria (Australia) and draw on police policies and Australian legislation to argue that police can (and should) make genuine expressions of belief to victim-survivors. We unpack the purpose of the police investigation as well as the potential relevance of ‘belief’ expressions at trial. We also convey the importance of demonstrating belief through investigative actions and avoiding a climate of disbelief, particularly in terms of minimising trauma for victim-survivors and bolstering the evidence in sexual offence investigations. Implications for other common law jurisdictions are also discussed.