Collecting evidence, safely
None of this is required. You are allowed to seek information, safety, and support without ever collecting a single record.
Your safety comes first
Evidence is never a requirement for deserving help, and collecting it is never more important than your immediate safety. If gathering or storing material could alert the person controlling you, speak with a specialist service first about a safer way to do this.
Keep a pattern-focused record, if it is safe
A dated diary or timeline can note what happened, the exact words used, who was present, where it occurred, how it affected you, and any related report, appointment, or court event. Courts and police look for a pattern, not a single incident.
Preserve original communications
Save messages with dates, times, contact names, and numbers. Keep original emails with full headers rather than only forwarded copies — a court order or subpoena may sometimes be needed to obtain full account-access records.
Keep records that show the practical pattern
Depending on what is safe to keep, this may include bank statements, bills, debt notices, employment records, medical records, photos of injuries or damage, police-event numbers, court documents, and a chronological list of applications and costs.
Crown Prosecution Service · NSW Department of Communities and Justice
Treat technology carefully
If you find a tracker, camera, or suspected spyware, documenting it before removal may help — but removal can alert an abuser and increase danger. You may be able to ask police to document a device first, or get specialist technical support before touching it.
Witnesses can matter
If someone observed an incident, saw injuries or damage, received disclosures at the time, or holds relevant records, note their name and what they witnessed. CCTV, workplace records, doorbell or dashcam footage, and medical documentation may also be relevant. Do not confront the person with your evidence just to prove what you know — think through storage and trusted copies with a specialist service instead.