Handling of sexual assault complaint by Saanich police prompts call for standards
A woman's complaints about being asked about a “walk of shame” by a Saanich police officer after reporting an alleged sexual assault has prompted British Columbia's police complaints commissioner to call for provincial standards for sex crimes investigations.
The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner's annual report includes details of the unnamed woman's complaint about a yearlong sexual assault investigation where she felt “devalued” and “disrespected” by an officer she perceived as biased.
“In addition, the complainant reported that the officer made comments and asked questions during their meetings which she felt were improper,” says the report. “This included comments related to the consumption of alcohol and medication, asking whether she stayed in the park because she did not want to do a `walk of shame.”'
The report says the woman said she was denied the assistance of a support person during her second meeting with the investigating officer and was told a support person was not necessary.
The woman made a complaint to the commission in January 2019 arising from an alleged incident in 2018, the report says.
“This specific case is what prompted me to write to the province and to suggest that they do a pan-provincial approach and standardize gender-based violence and sexual assault investigations,” commissioner Clayton Pecknold said in an interview.
“It isn't just that file, it's certainly other files across our desk where we see these types of inadequate investigations in terms of sexual assault investigations,” he said.
B.C.'s police complaint commission is a civilian, independent office of the legislature that oversees and monitors complaints and investigations involving municipal police in the province.
Pecknold said the Police Act includes standards for investigations and procedures involving major crimes, missing persons and use of force, but not sexual assault.
“One of the challenges with sexual assault investigations that has been identified for a number of years with respect to gender-based violence, are biases and assumptions that are gender based,” he said.
Pecknold said he wrote to the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General calling for the province to bring in standards for sexual assault investigations that municipal police must follow.
He said the ministry told him it was reviewing plans to introduce binding policing policy for sexual assault investigations but did not provide a timeline.
Earlier this week, the legislature appointed a Special Committee on Reform of the Police Act.
The committee is tasked with making recommendations to modernize and sustain the Police Act with respect to complex social issues, including mental health, addictions and harm reduction and the scope of systemic racism within B.C. police agencies.
Pecknold said he expects the committee to examine police policy for sexual assault investigations.