A petition calling for the 琉璃神社 RCMP to implement a sexual assault investigation unit is making its way around the city.

The petition was organized by Heather Friesen and Aden Withers, two local rape survivors, following the publicizing of Statistics Canada data that showed 琉璃神社 had an abnormally high number of unfounded sexual assault reports.

As first reported in the 琉璃神社 on Oct. 25, Statistics Canada data shows the 琉璃神社 RCMP classified almost 40 per cent of sexual assault reports as unfounded in 2018. That number is more than double the 15 per cent average across the province and dwarfs the under five per cent averages in Vancouver and Victoria.

The petition鈥檚 demands are as follows:

That in order to bring the number of sexual assault cases declared unfounded into line with the provincial average and improve the number of cases cleared (solved) the city council work with the 琉璃神社 RCMP and:

• Approval of the $12 million budget proposal for 56 new RCMP officers by 2025
• That part of this increase will be used to form a Sexual Assault Team.
• That this team receive training specific to handling sexual assault cases AND interviewing survivors
• An Indigenous Advocate to work with RCMP dedicated sexual assault team
• That the City Council require the RCMP to have an advocate to be present when interviewing sexual assault survivors

READ MORE: $12 million needed to beef up 琉璃神社 RCMP: report

READ MORE: 鈥榃e represent the 40%鈥�: Protesters swarm 琉璃神社 RCMP over unfounded sexual assault reports

Friesen said the implementation of an investigative group devoted to sexual assault cases would be a start to bringing 琉璃神社鈥檚 sexual assault statistics into line with the provincial and national averages.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a first step. I think it will improve (the stats) some,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think it will help some survivors or some victims. I don鈥檛 know if it鈥檒l do much but it鈥檚 better than nothing. I don鈥檛 know if it鈥檒l make a difference but I have to try. I鈥檝e reached a point where I have to do something productive and this feels productive.鈥�

General duty RCMP officers are not equipped to deal with cases as sensitive and intricate as sexual assault, according to Friesen.

Several of the people Friesen spoke with while gathering signatures weren鈥檛 aware that 琉璃神社 doesn鈥檛 have a sexual assault unit.

鈥淧eople need to learn how our city runs,鈥� she said. 鈥淓veryone鈥檚 like, 鈥榳ell what do you mean we don鈥檛 have one?鈥� Well, we don鈥檛. And we need one.鈥�

So far, the petition has been circulating for about a week but Friesen doesn鈥檛 have an exact number on how many have signed it as several people have taken copies to gather signatures on their own.

Currently, the petition is available to sign in Perc鈥檚 Place Coffee Shop in Orchard Park mall but Friesen said she鈥檚 looking for other businesses to get involved as well.

More information can be found at the Facebook group where information on the petition鈥檚 progress and where to sign will be updated periodically.

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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