Peterborough police launch website to help sexual violence victims

A new website launched by Peterborough police aims to provide support for victims of sexual violence or harassment.

On Thursday, SurvivorToolkit.ca was launched, a website and video series designed to help guide people through the list of services — including health, counselling and legal options — available in the city and county.

“We have spent the last 18 months working to improve the police response to victim/survivors in our region through training for police and our community partners and the creation of an online resource,” stated Peter Williams, Peterborough Police Service’s community development and engagement coordinator.

“These resources will help survivors, their family and friends, and community service organizations gain a better understanding of what services are available and how they work together.”

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The launch featured representatives from health, social and legal services.

Police also highlighted their recent multi-sector training initiative to better respond to survivors of sexual violence and harassment.

“With tools like SurvivorToolkit.ca and multi-sector training, health professionals, service providers, victim services and police have built stronger collaboration to support survivors of sexual violence and harassment,” stated Lisa Clarke, acting executive director at the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre.

“We are excited to build on our community’s 2016 needs assessment and the Ontario Action Plan to address sexual violence and harassment. Most importantly, we now have public videos to help survivors and their supporters see and better understand services in this community and the criminal justice process.

The project is funded through the province and in partnership with the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre, Peterborough Police Service – Victim Services Unit, Peterborough OPP, Anishinabek Police Service – Curve Lake Detachment, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Victim Services Peterborough and Northumberland, Victim Witness Assistance Program, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, Crown Attorney’s Office and PARN.