A petition calling for the Kelowna RCMP to implement a sexual assault investigation unit is making its way around the city.
The petition was organized by Heather Friesen and Aden Withers, two local rape survivors, following the publicizing of Statistics Canada data that showed Kelowna had an abnormally high number of unfounded sexual assault reports.
As first reported in the 害羞草研究所 on Oct. 25, Statistics Canada data shows the Kelowna RCMP classified almost 40 per cent of sexual assault reports as unfounded in 2018. That number is more than double the 15 per cent average across the province and dwarfs the under five per cent averages in Vancouver and Victoria.
The petition害羞草研究所檚 demands are as follows:
That in order to bring the number of sexual assault cases declared unfounded into line with the provincial average and improve the number of cases cleared (solved) the city council work with the Kelowna RCMP and:
- Approval of the $12 million budget proposal for 56 new RCMP officers by 2025
- That part of this increase will be used to form a Sexual Assault Team.
- That this team receive training specific to handling sexual assault cases AND interviewing survivors
- An Indigenous Advocate to work with RCMP dedicated sexual assault team
- That the City Council require the RCMP to have an advocate to be present when interviewing sexual assault survivors
READ MORE: $12 million needed to beef up Kelowna RCMP: report
Friesen said the implementation of an investigative group devoted to sexual assault cases would be a start to bringing Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 sexual assault statistics into line with the provincial and national averages.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a first step. I think it will improve (the stats) some,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 think it will help some survivors or some victims. I don害羞草研究所檛 know if it害羞草研究所檒l do much but it害羞草研究所檚 better than nothing. I don害羞草研究所檛 know if it害羞草研究所檒l make a difference but I have to try. I害羞草研究所檝e reached a point where I have to do something productive and this feels productive.害羞草研究所�
General duty RCMP officers are not equipped to deal with cases as sensitive and intricate as sexual assault, according to Friesen.
Several of the people Friesen spoke with while gathering signatures weren害羞草研究所檛 aware that Kelowna doesn害羞草研究所檛 have a sexual assault unit.
害羞草研究所淧eople need to learn how our city runs,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淓veryone害羞草研究所檚 like, 害羞草研究所榳ell what do you mean we don害羞草研究所檛 have one?害羞草研究所� Well, we don害羞草研究所檛. And we need one.害羞草研究所�
So far, the petition has been circulating for about a week but Friesen doesn害羞草研究所檛 have an exact number on how many have signed it as several people have taken copies to gather signatures on their own.
Currently, the petition is available to sign in Perc害羞草研究所檚 Place Coffee Shop in Orchard Park mall but Friesen said she害羞草研究所檚 looking for other businesses to get involved as well.
More information can be found at the Facebook group where information on the petition害羞草研究所檚 progress and where to sign will be updated periodically.
michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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