Tasmanians will soon be given the ability to report serious crimes on the official Tasmania Police website.

The change follows calls by Greens MP Tabatha Badger for the State Government to drag the website into the modern era by allowing the online reporting of crimes such as sexual assault, fraud, and burglary.

While the government announced it would have a limited facility up and running by November, Ms Badger said online community portals – such as those featured on police websites in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland – increase public confidence in reporting crimes by offering a fully anonymous alternative to phoning a hotline or visiting a police station.

“Many people will be surprised that in the digital era of 2024 you can’t report crimes using the Tasmania Police website,” Ms Badger said.

“Other states have already gone down this modern road, and it’s beyond time Tasmania caught up.

“We should be making it easier for people to report crimes.

“Online reporting allows people to be confident in their anonymity and makes it easier for people to report the entirety of information they want, in the way they want to.”

The NSW Police Force Community Portal provides residents with the option to report crimes including vehicle theft, intentional property damage such as graffiti, financial fraud, and adult sexual assault, via an online menu.

The Victorian police online system, which promotes itself as “an easy and convenient way to report some non-urgent incidents”, allows residents to record instances of theft and property damage, while the Queensland Police website provides a facility to log instances of domestic violence, sexual assault, or suspected drug-dealer activity.

Ms Badger said that updating the Tasmania Police website would also have the practical benefit of improving access for those rural residents who had access to Wi-Fi, but lacked adequate phone reception.

“Introducing a way of reporting crimes online is a basic, modern, and common-sense step,” Ms Badger said.

“We hope it’s something Tasmania Police will bring in soon.”

Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Felix Ellis, said the government had undertaken significant work on the Tasmanian Police website, which was now on track to allow the online reporting of serious crime later this year.

A specific facility for the reporting of sex-related crimes would be available shortly after, Mr Ellis said.

“In the meantime, people can report to police via trauma-informed Arch Centres, Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online,” he said.

“A major component of the government’s new trauma-informed approach has been the establishment of Arch centres, which are safe places to get information and support if you are affected by sexual harm.”