Police officers from around the region are getting special training in how to deal with assault victims.
At a two-day conference in Kingston, front-line officers are learning the latest information and techniques to deal with victims of sexual or physical abuse.
Sexual assaults are some of the toughest crimes for victims to deal with and for police to investigate.
Someone who has been sexually assaulted is traumatized and often there are no witnesses and little evidence.
Earlier this year, the Globe and Mail found on average 20 per cent of sexual assaults end up filed by police as unfounded.
Through a provincial grant, Kingston Police are hoping to address that very issue.
Barbara Hough with the Kingston Police sexual assault unit says seminars like the Sexual Assault Resource Officer course and renovations to the area where police work with victims are part of improving police response and sensitivity.
“We have two interview rooms that have been soundproofed and we have a new family room where we can support people and family members can wait while interviews are happening,” she said.
The aim is to provide privacy for assault victims while they talk about their experience.
Pascal Labine spoke to officers involved in the two-day seminar about interviewing techniques.
Labine says over the last ten years there has been a lot of research by psychologists and criminologists on the best approaches for officers first responding to calls or conducting interviews with victims.
Labine is with the Ottawa Police force’s specialized investigations.
Constable Damian Willis has been with the Brockville Police for about ten months but has almost a decade’s experience in policing.
He says he’s learning techniques to better deal with people who have been sexually assaulted and first impressions can sometimes make or break an investigation.
“A lot of time, how they react is going to partially be dependent on your approach, I mean if you’re not pushy,” Willis said. “Show the empathy, again you haven’t dealt with what they’ve dealt with regardless of the case sexual assault or the other.”
A Crown attorney, community living and mental health experts will also be speaking at the seminar.
Hough says Kingston Police are also developing stronger ties with outside agencies like the Sexual Assault Centre.
“And just communicating with our outside partners that are advocates for sexual assaults and building those communications, what can we do together to work better,” Hough said.
Another Sexual Assault Resource Officer course is taking place later this month.
Kingston, Gananoque, Belleville, Brockville, Smith’s Falls police forces are taking part in the sessions along with Queen’s University security.
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