Guiding principles for sexual assault investigations

The purpose of the BC Provincial Policing Standards on police response to reports of sexual assaults is to promote best practices, accountability, and to help ensure consistency, effectiveness, and responsiveness to the diverse needs of victims throughout British Columbia. These Standards build on BCPPS 6.1 Community Partnerships and Equitable Policing, BCPPS 3.2.5 Training to Promote Equitable and Unbiased Policing & BCPPS 3.2.6 Training to Enhance Service Delivery to Vulnerable Communities and associated guiding principles which provide consistent pathways for advancing equitable and unbiased policing.

The Standards identify the minimum requirements on all police forces in British Columbia and support a consistent approach throughout the province. Implementation at the local level is required for procedures respecting investigations of sexual assaults reported to police.

The underlying principles of these BC Provincial Policing Standards are that:

Sexual assaults are inherently traumatic events which disproportionally affect certain groups

The majority of victims are women and girls. Other intersecting groups also experience higher rates of victimization, including Indigenous or racialized women and girls, individuals from the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, sex workers, people with disabilities (mental and physical), and those experiencing poverty or homelessness.

Steps must be taken to better respond to the needs of Indigenous victims

Indigenous peoples have unique rights, interests, and circumstances within Canadian society. Numerous inquiries have documented the need to overcome historical and ongoing systemic issues and the effects of colonization, including racial discrimination, bias, and intergenerational trauma. Police policies, procedures and practices must be culturally-appropriate and legally-informed.

Victim-centered approaches, cultural safety, and trauma-informed practices are essential

Victim-centered, trauma-informed and inclusive approaches, as well as providing cultural safety during the initial contact with the victim and throughout the investigative process will improve police responses and increase trust in the criminal justice process.

Victims need information to exercise choice throughout their interactions with police. Police officers, supported by victim service workers, play a role in ensuring victims are provided information about their rights, services available, the criminal justice system, and their case.

Many victims face barriers to reporting and fear not being believed or may distrust the criminal justice system or police. The priority during intake and at the start of a sexual assault investigation is to establish the victim’s safety, including cultural safety, build rapport and trust, and consider their physical and emotional needs.

This will set the foundation for effective police response throughout the investigation.

Assumptions and stereotypes create barriers and impede effective police responses

Victims of sexual assaults may react in different ways. Assumptions or stereotypes about sexual assaults and victim responses to trauma affect investigative decisions and police responses to victims. Police agencies and police officers must take steps to ensure responsive, unbiased, fair, and impartial investigations.

Collaboration and coordination with other sectors is essential to effective police responses to victims of sexual assaults 

Collaboration and coordination with local health services and other community-based services, including victim services, promotes support for victims throughout the investigation. Timely referrals and involvement of victim services is an integral part of a victim-centered and trauma-informed approach.

Victims benefit from early collaboration and coordination for immediate crisis intervention and further benefit from the experience, expertise, and cultural or Indigenous-specific supports available through community-based organisations.

Police agencies ensure effective investigations into reports of sexual assaults, supervision, and reviews of investigations

Police investigations of reported sexual assaults involve complex legal considerations. Effective police responses also involve consideration and responsiveness to complex and intersecting social and emotional factors including, for example, the age, ethnicity, marginalization, gender identity or expression or sexual orientation of the victim, or the relationship between the involved parties.

Provincial standards establish requirements for police agencies and an overall approach to be taken by police officers when responding to reports of sexual assaults. Police agencies’ policies and procedures provide more specific direction related to coordination, supports for victims, investigations, interviews, officer specialization, risk and safety considerations, supervision, resource allocation, and case reviews. Police agencies and police officers have independence and discretion in relation to operational decisions to respond to the unique aspects of each case. Officer knowledge, skills and abilities must be appropriate to the case. Decisions and actions of officers, investigators, and supervisors must be documented in the case file. Supervision and case review processes as well as varied subject matter expertise will provide accountability and result in information to improve policies and practices.