The Kelowna RCMP will be further investigating 12 sexual assault cases that were deemed 害羞草研究所渦nfounded害羞草研究所� in 2018 and 2019 and create a new sexual assault unit in response to public outcry about how the police force investigated dozens of sexual assault cases over the past two years.

The recommendation from the RCMP害羞草研究所檚 national Sexual Assault Review Team (SART) comes nearly five months after the local detachment came under fire after 害羞草研究所 revealed nearly 40 per cent of sexual assaults reported to police were deemed 害羞草研究所渦nfounded.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淏ased on the SART recommendations, any files that were identified for additional investigation will be investigated further. This has already started,害羞草研究所澓π卟菅芯克鶟 states a press release published on Feb. 27.

The press release also states the RCMP will create a dedicated sexual assault unit to provide investigative support to front line officers as early as March.

害羞草研究所淭he unit will be responsible for reviewing all sexual assault files to ensure all investigations are consistent, complete, accurately documented, trauma-informed and scored correctly,害羞草研究所� states the press release.

害羞草研究所淭his team will provide Kelowna detachment with in-house expertise in sexual assault and investigative best practices, including bias awareness. These members will work closely with community partners such as the Elizabeth Fry Society (EFry) and Crown Counsel, our domestic violence unit and the new Kelowna Child Advocacy Centre (CAC).害羞草研究所�

Heather Friesen, a sexual assault survivor and a vocal advocate for change within the RCMP, said she was pleased with the RCMP害羞草研究所檚 report.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 shocked and pleasantly surprised that they害羞草研究所檙e putting in the sexual assault unit with the RCMP. Hopefully the officers will be properly trained and know how to investigate rape,害羞草研究所� said Friesein.

害羞草研究所淚 still don害羞草研究所檛 understand why it took a month for the report to be released. Why did they make us wait so long for it? That害羞草研究所檚 kind of ridiculous.害羞草研究所�

Michelle Novakowski, the executive director for the Elizebeth Fry Society, also welcomed the report害羞草研究所檚 recommendations.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 hoping this report will reassure survivors about coming forward, whether it害羞草研究所檚 to the RCMP or to the FRY society. I think sexual assault investigations will improve from here and that survivors will get a better service moving forward,害羞草研究所� said Novakowski.

害羞草研究所淔rom this year to last year, the number of people reporting sexual assault cases to us is up 500 per cent.害羞草研究所�

READ MORE: 害羞草研究所楽teeped in rape culture害羞草研究所�: Sexual assault survivor speaks out against Kelowna RCMP

READ MORE: Kelowna RCMP vow to review 害羞草研究所榰nfounded害羞草研究所� sexual assault cases

The report also found 29 files were incorrectly classified within the police force害羞草研究所檚 uniform crime reporting (UCR) survey and 25 sexual assault files remained unfounded. In total the review team looked at 66 files, including 30 from 2018 and 36 from 2019.

According to the press release, the UCR reporting system is used by police forces in Canada to record the type of reported criminal offence, whether the reported crime is founded or unfounded, and if the reported crime has been concluded. This information is then shared with Statistics Canada through the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey to track crime statistics across the country.

害羞草研究所淭he use of the wrong UCR codes was the most common issue identified during the review,害羞草研究所� states the press release.

害羞草研究所淏ased on the SART review and the correction in the classification of files Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 unfounded sexual assault rate is fact in line with the provincial average.害羞草研究所�

According to Statistics Canada, on average 15 per cent of sexual assaults are deemed 害羞草研究所渦nfounded害羞草研究所� in B.C.

READ MORE: Kelowna mayor to request RCMP害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所榰nfounded害羞草研究所� sexual assault report

READ MORE: READ MORE: 害羞草研究所楶lease be quiet,害羞草研究所� Kelowna Mayor tells sexual assault survivor protesting in council chambers

To help fix this issue, police officers will be getting training in March on how to properly file cases dealing with sexual assault.

In addition, the press release said all local police members are in the process of receiving additional training with respect to sexual consent law, and additional training, formal and informal, on trauma-informed practices and bias awareness.

害羞草研究所淚t is anticipated that the increased training and ongoing consultation will help increase the quality of sexual assault investigations and UCR scoring,害羞草研究所� states the press release.

The local detachment said it already began to remodel its general investigation unit prior to the SART review of sexual assault files to provide better support to frontline members and enhance overall policing service.

In Febuary an eight person, plain clothes, general investigation support team will be created to work directly with frontline members.

害羞草研究所淭he Kelowna RCMP remain steadfast in our commitment to improving internal processes, educating and training employees on sexual assault investigations,害羞草研究所� states the press release.

害羞草研究所淪exual assault complaints can be extremely difficult and complicated investigations that cover a broad spectrum of offences. They are especially troubling crimes due to the personal and intimate nature of the offence.

害羞草研究所淭he dedicated women and men at Kelowna Detachment are committed to helping their community and providing a quality police service that everyone can trust, especially when it comes to reporting sexual assaults. Kelowna RCMP take all reports of sexual violence seriously and will thoroughly investigate any report brought forward.害羞草研究所�

After the report was released, Kelowna mayor Colin Basran also released a statement on the issue.

害羞草研究所淚 want to thank and recognize the women who came forward to speak out on their experiences 害羞草研究所� it took courage and it will make a difference to those who come forward in the future,害羞草研究所� said Basran.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 council害羞草研究所檚 expectation that everyone is dealt with fairly and with dignity.害羞草研究所�

To report a typo, email:
newstips@kelownacapnews.com.

newstips@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .