SVFR has to be requested by the pilot, ATC will not tell you to ask for it!
Sort of.... if you don't ask for it, you will be advised that clearance is not available and that you will need to request SVFR.
It's not hard to work out, but a low time pilot could end up in some very serious trouble flying at 1,600 metres visibility. I've flown into YMMB in SVFR and the heavens opened up on downwind with no warning resulting in zero visibility, so I'm glad I was suitably equipped and experienced to deal with it. Not nice otherwise.