Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. government announces new programs, police standards for sexual assault

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 24 Jul, 2023 01:51 PM
  • B.C. government announces new programs, police standards for sexual assault

The British Columbia government is updating policing standards in response to sexual assaults to ensure more effective investigations and improved outcomes for survivors. 

The province also says it's committing to providing stable annual funding to 68 sexual assault programs across B.C., while it sets new standards for police to collaborate with victims services workers during investigations. 

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says survivors deserve to be treated fairly after going through trauma and shielded from further harm, and the new standards and programs will "empower" those people. 

The province says the funding for the new programs kicks in this month, while new policing standards coupling investigators with victims services workers will begin next year, applying to all B.C. police officers. 

The RCMP began a review of its sexual assault complaints after a Globe and Mail investigation in 2017 reported police classify an average one in five sexual assaults as unfounded, and since then it has reopened hundreds of files and laid dozens of charges. 

Farnworth says the new B.C. policing standards includes a review of closed cases, and will involve "supervisory oversight" of investigations to make sure officers are impartial and "trauma informed." 

The B.C. government says it now kicks in $54 million a year for crime victim support services and programs, more than 470 of which deal with violence against women and sexual assault victims.

MORE National ARTICLES

Record wildfire season in B.C. for area burned with almost 400 fires in the province

Record wildfire season in B.C. for area burned with almost 400 fires in the province
The B.C. Wildfire Service website says 13,935 square kilometres have been burned since April 1, surpassing the previous record of 13,543 square kilometres set in 2018. But there are still months to go in this year's season and the service says there are almost 400 fires currently burning.

Record wildfire season in B.C. for area burned with almost 400 fires in the province

Municipal police chief casts doubt on effectiveness of B.C. drug decriminalization

Municipal police chief casts doubt on effectiveness of B.C. drug decriminalization
Delta Police Chief Constable Neil Dubord says in the letter that while he agrees with "the underlying principles of decriminalization," an early evaluation shows that the policy has not led to "the desired outcome." Dubord says there were 791 overdose deaths in the province between then and May, which "closely mirrors" the 772 deaths recorded during the same period last year.

Municipal police chief casts doubt on effectiveness of B.C. drug decriminalization

Inmate dies in police custody

Inmate dies in police custody
Correctional officials say an inmate has died while in the custody of a prison in Abbotsford, B-C. The Pacific Institution says in a statement that Douglas Gordon Martin died on July 14.

Inmate dies in police custody

Coquitlam RCMP need public's assistance locating missing man Syed Mustafa

Coquitlam RCMP need public's assistance locating missing man Syed Mustafa
Coquitlam RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing man, 36-year old Syed Mustafa. Syed was last seen early June camping near Twin Islands, Belcarra British Columbia. Syed’s family and Police are concerned for Syeds’s well-being.   

Coquitlam RCMP need public's assistance locating missing man Syed Mustafa

Man and woman charged after multiple random shootings in Edmonton: police

Man and woman charged after multiple random shootings in Edmonton: police
A 31-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman face charges after a series of shootings in Edmonton over the weekend that police say were random.  Edmonton police say Tariq Sayed Mohammed Aman and Neanna Wuttunee jointly face a total of 35 charges.

Man and woman charged after multiple random shootings in Edmonton: police

Mission homicide victim identified

Mission homicide victim identified
B-C's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the victim is Jesse Kennedy, who lived in the city, and police are releasing his identity in an effort to help solve the case. Kennedy was found injured in the 325-hundred block of Lougheed Highway on July 13 just before 6 p-m, and died after being taken to hospital.  

Mission homicide victim identified