RCMP Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Strachan released a statement today updating the public on an investigation into a video that was made public this month of a Kelowna RCMP officer interrogating a young girl who reported a sexual assault.
The mentioned video was from a 2012 incident where a young Indigenous girl was being inappropriately interviewed by an officer.
Warning: This video contains content that is graphic in nature - Police tape obtained by APTN News of an RCMP member interrogating a young Indigenous teenager after she reported a sexual assault while in foster care. https://t.co/OnTV5dmMBn pic.twitter.com/dLHTKPO9zY
— APTN National News (@APTNNews) May 14, 2019
The officer asks the youth questions such as “Were you at all turned on during this at all? Even a little bit.”
The officer also enquired how hard the victim fought back. “You understand that when a guy tries to have sex with a female and the female is completely unwilling, it is very difficult,” he said.
Strachan started off by saying that they “understand and respect” the concerns raised in response to the video, but they have to limit their comments around the case due to restrictions under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, Privacy Act, an ongoing Criminal Code investigation and civil litigation proceedings.
“However, I wanted to address that our inability to provide further context or perspective does not mean we have not heard the concerns,” said Stratchan.
“We agree that on the surface this case doesn’t appear to align with public expectations or the current standards and practices in place when addressing sex assault investigations and supporting victims,” she continued. “We also recognize that a negative experience with police investigators can bring more trauma to victims, and discourage others from reporting these crimes.”
Stratchan added that she can confirm that a fulsome review of the 2012 investigation is underway and they have engaged with various individuals and agencies that have expressed concerns.
“Respecting the limitations and that a review is still underway, we do understand there is a greater discussion taking place around sexual assault investigations,” Strachan said. “The RCMP is committed to improving how its employees respond to victims of all crimes, and investigate allegations of sexual assault.”
The video prompted comments from Canadian politicians such as Andrew Scheer, who brought up the case during Question Period and asked for a comment from Ralph Goodale, minister of public safety.
“What was revealed in that video was absolutely abhorrent,” Goodale responded.
“The apparent attitudes and techniques that were on display in 2012 are profoundly outdated offensive and wrong,” he continued. “The RCMP and police forces must work continuously to conduct themselves appropriately. No survivor of sexual assault should ever feel that their case will not be taken seriously or that they will be revictimized in the process.”
In 2017, the RCMP released The Way Forward: The RCMP’s Sexual Assault Review and Victim Support Action Plan, a report that outlines a review of unfounded sexual assault files.
The deputy commissioner said that new training for RCMP officers continues to be a priority. The RCMP has updated their course on interviewing witnesses and victims, and added an advanced course for sexual assault investigators.
Additionally, the RCMP said that they are working on establishing an external review model.
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