Policy direction for Sexual Assault investigations

 

Definitions

Cultural Safety: Physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually safe environment created by recognizing and respecting the cultural identities of others and considering social and historical contexts as well as structural and interpersonal imbalances.

Sexual Assault: Touching of an objectively sexual nature to which the Victim did not consent.

Third Party Report: Process which allows Victims, who would otherwise not report to police, to access support and to report details of a Sexual Assault to police through a community-based Victim Services program or other designated community program.

Trauma-Informed Practice: Evidence-based approach that integrates into practice how past and current experiences of violence impact Victim trauma, memory, reactions, and behaviour with a goal to avoid re-traumatization throughout the investigative process and to support Victim safety, choice, dignity and control.

Victim: Individual who is reporting a Sexual Assault against them, also referred to as a survivor or complainant.

Victim-Centered Approach: Practice of putting at the forefront a Victim’s rights, safety, needs, and wishes by offering information, support(s), and options whenever appropriate.

Standards

Policy direction on police response to reports of Sexual Assaults

The Board, or the Commissioner must ensure that:

(1) Consistent with BCPPS 6.1 Community Partnerships and Equitable Policing, the policies of the police force on response and investigation into a report of a Sexual Assault emphasize:

(a) Trauma-Informed Practice in all aspects of the police response, investigations, interviews, and interactions with the Victim;
(b) a Victim-Centered Approach responsive to individual needs, including those of Indigenous, diverse, or vulnerable individuals;
(c) Cultural Safety for the Victim;
(d) considerations related to safety of the Victim, as well as the risks to the public or to specific groups;
(e) the importance of collaboration with other sectors (e.g., health, social, or other services responsive to the needs of Indigenous, diverse, or vulnerable individuals);
(f) the importance of supporting reporting of Sexual Assaults, either directly to police or through a Third Party Report, as well as fostering equity and trust in the investigative and criminal justice process, particularly for individuals facing systemic barriers;
(g) evidence-based approaches and best practices related to police responses to reported Sexual Assaults, so as to avoid negative impact, pervasiveness, and consequences of assumptions and stereotypes; and
(h) supervision, oversight, and accountability processes.

(2) The policies of the police force on response and investigation into a report of a Sexual Assault are responsive to the unique rights, interests, and circumstances of Indigenous Victims.

(3) Further to Standard (1) and (2) above, and consistent with the processes in BCPPS 6.1 Community Partnerships and Equitable Policing, the policies of the police force are periodically reviewed and amended as appropriate to ensure continued compliance with BCPPS 5.4.2 to 5.4.5, alignment with law, evidence-based approaches and best practices, as well as to ensure consideration of the findings of case reviews in Standard (2) of BCPPS 5.4.5 Case Reviews.