SMS Reminder Program

Family Violence Bail, Orders and Compliance Short Messaging Service

The Family Violence Bail, Orders and Compliance Short Messaging Service (FVBOC-SMS) program begins on 9 November 2026.

The FVBOC-SMS program will send text messages to provide reminders and information to individuals subject to family violence-related bail conditions or family violence orders. Messages will remind recipients of their obligations, provide information about support services and offer an ACT Policing point of contact for those seeking clarification about their conditions or who want to be referred to support services.

Eligible recipients will be randomly allocated to a group that receives the SMS or a group that does not, and the results will be compared for the two groups. This means not everyone subject to family violence-related bail conditions or family violence orders will receive a message.

Note: Victims will not be involved in the decision to send an SMS to a particular recipient.

Findings from the project will assist ACT Policing in identifying evidence-based approaches to preventing reoffending and improving outcomes for the community.

Questions and Answers

When does the program start?

• Messaging will commence from Monday, 9 November 2026.

Will all people on bail or subject to an FVO, get messages?

• No – all eligible bailees and FVO respondents will be subject to the trial, but each individual will be randomly allocated to either receive or not receive an SMS.
• This will allow our researchers to compare compliance outcomes for the two groups.

Can people block the phone number?

• While a receiver can choose to block the message – we hope they will understand the messaging is meant to assist them to meet their requirements for bail or an order.

Who sends the message?

• The messages will be sent by staff from the Domestic and Family Violence Investigation Unit.

How often will messages be sent to an individual?

• Eligible bailees and FVO respondents in the group randomly selected to receive SMS will receive one initial SMS. Half of that group will then be randomly selected to receive a later follow up message.

What privacy considerations have been taken into account with the system?

• The program will run under existing AFP privacy guidelines and protocols.
• The SMS will not include any personal details of the involved parties.

Is this a permanent program?

• This program is an initial 6-month trial to ensure the program is effective and that there are no unintended consequences for either recipients or DFV victims.
• Pending the results of the evaluation, ACT Policing is ready to implement the program as a permanent part of our approach to reducing DFV in the Canberra community.

What is the cost of the SMS program?

• ACT Policing has received no additional or dedicated funding for this new program – it is being managed from within existing resources in the Domestic and Family Violence Investigation Unit.

What happens when police become aware of a breach?

• ACT Policing investigates all reported breaches of FVOs or bail - to gather evidence and hold offenders accountable by bringing them before the Court.