The head of the NSW Police sex crimes squad says there is an education gap about the issue of sexual consent, and schools must confront sexual assault allegations within their communities rather than become concerned about reputational damage.
Detective Superintendent Stacey Maloney has welcomed the conversations among Sydney school and parent circles this week, after hundreds of former schoolgirls’ claims of sexual assault were published in an online petition and in the media.
“A lot of victims are not aware of the fact it is a criminal offence ... Alongside that you’ve got the other factors: they feel ashamed, the fear factor of actually talking to police, going to court. And then obviously in terms of the perpetrators, a lack of understanding.”