Wednesday, November 5, 2014

We Believe You

There has been much talk online, on the street, throughout Canada and around the world about sexualized violence in the wake of several high-profile incidents.

Much of this talk has focused around the hesitation of reporting incidents of sexualized violence to police. Although we do not have the information or jurisdiction to assist in a criminal investigation into these specific allegations, we want to assure you, we are hearing these powerful conversations. These matters are often complex and may involve several factors beyond the scope of policing, but we have one simple message to ANYONE who has been a victim of intimate partner or sexualized violence:

We Believe You.

We believe you because we know that it has taken an immense amount of courage for you to come forward. We understand that there are things far beyond a policing scope that concern you. We also understand that this is likely one of the most difficult times of your life and that this is not an easy decision.

We believe you because we know sexualized violence is unbelievably underreported.  We know that the amount of people who come forward are only a small fraction of the larger population that has experienced sexualized or domestic violence. We know that these cases are even further underreported in the LBGQT communities and we know that coming forward is difficult.

We believe you and you have a say in the direction of sexually violent investigations. We work closely with everyone who has been victimized by sexualized violence to create a safe space.  We work hand-in-hand with teams of professionals who are there to help. From the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre to the caring and professional staff at the Island Health Authority, our focus is on your safety and care.

We believe you, and, with our partners, are there to support you because the journey will not be easy. Your participation in interviews, collecting evidence, forwarding charges and possibly testifying will be challenging. We are here. Our support does not end at the conclusion of the investigation. We will be there for the whole process, and our partners at the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre will be there as well if you wish. 

We believe you and even if we can’t gather enough evidence for charge approval, we believe you. The bar is set high for both charge approval and for conviction and rightfully so, but know that we believe you. Even if the charge is not approved, we will have the information and evidence lodged here and this may assist in future investigations.

We are a team of 243 sworn and 108 professional support staff who are here for you.  We also have a team of dedicated investigators in our Special Victims Unit and encourage you to reach out and speak with us.

We believe you.



If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexualized or domestic violence, please contact us. Call our investigators through the VicPD non-emergency line at 250-995-7654. If, for any reason, you believe your complaint is not being addressed, contact the Sergeant in charge of VicPD’s Special Victims unit directly through the non-emergency line of 250-995-7654.

Please also know that the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre is here to help as well. They can be reached, 24-hours, at 250-383-3232. In cases of spousal assault, the Spousal Assault Victim Services can be reached at 250-356-1201 or other resources at domesticviolencebc.ca or 1-800-563-0808.

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Sgt. Kristi Ross, Sergeant in charge of VicPD's Special Victims Unit was the guest of Gregor Cragie on CBC's 'On the Island' today. You can listen to her full interview here: 
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15 comments:

  1. So it's not that I'd be worried that the cops wouldn't believe me. That's not the problem at all. The problem is with the courts and defense attornies. If i speak up and say I was raped, then I have to sit thru the defense airing my dirty laundry for everyone, including my family, to see and hear. Who wants their family to know they were drunk, high on cocaine, slept with other questionable characters? All that comes out as the defense builds their case. So yeah, maybe the raper gets some kind of punishment, but in the end, the Raped person is still violated, but now by not only the rape, but by having everyone else know all their personal info. Until the Justice Department stops allowing the Defense's victim blaming, I'm still not reporting my rape.

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    2. In my opinion these people suck!! No wonder people don't come forward!! We believe you yah sure!!
      I was told there are pedophiles and there are those that pick one child a seized opportunity like getting into college

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  2. Hi Kegrkn. We have definitely heard those concerns echoed through the conversations online in the weeks past. The system may not be perfect, but it is the one we have to operate in right now. That is why we work very closely with many support groups and other dedicated individuals (including Crown Counsel) to help work through what is a challenging time. Know that we will be there along the way for support. We're here to listen.

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  3. During my torturous crawl through the legal system it was the police that made me feel supported, and my story validated. Crown counsel (at least the attorney I dealt with) seemed robotic, dishonest and uncaring. The female officer assigned to my case was there for it all. Before my preliminary hearing she sat with me while I wrung my hands, during it she sat in the waiting room with my family, and after the hearing she escorted me from the building safely. I never felt her support was anything less than genuine, and her effort never wavered.

    To all the girls, boys, men or women reading this article and wondering if you should speak up: I can't tell you if it's worth it, or that it won't be awful, but I can tell you that having the police on your side makes it the tiniest bit easier.

    Thank you VicPD for your efforts and the job that you do. You truly are making a difference in someone's life.

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    1. Thank you for that powerful comment, Jane. Much appreciated through my tears. I wish you the best moving forward.
      ~ another survivor

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    2. Thank you Jane-d for sharing the story of your journey. We are glad the officers’ actions offered some comfort in what was undoubtedly a very hard time. We know others will find strength in your words.

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    3. If I ever had to go through this again I would only do so with a witness or tape recorder

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  4. My experience of calling VicPD years ago was that they were very homophobic and totally uninformed about male sexualized violence. My neighboured was being attacked by a partner (choking, death threats, breaking windows). When the cops came to our apartment, they did not answer the door went silent. The cops banged on my door and yelled at me for wasting their time because men don't rape each other, which exposed me as the caller to the attacker. I had to shout back that they were inside and that I would report them if they didn't do something they sneered at me but them tried again and the neighbours them opened their door. For weeks I was scared the attacker would retaliate, and I was lucky that he didn't. VicPD broke any faith I had in them that day.

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    1. Emily. Sorry to hear about your experience. Now-a-days VicPD officers, and most others in BC, are specifically trained to deal with intimate partner violence. Part of that training is the re-enforcement of the fact that ‘intimate partners’ can mean any make-up in a relationship. We’re sorry your experience was negative, but hope that you’ll be able to call us if you need us in the future.

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    2. Trained?? Where 4 cats art studio?

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  5. I came forward in 90s was told my mom said I was a liar found out years later it was a police tactic then I was told it was a sized opportunity the person is not a pediphile. I filed complaint to opcc
    Guy clearly is not to bright has cotton in his ears!! As he wrote and in his report that I confirmed that a opportunity is in the dsm5 the officer who is in charge of this campaign had just tried to education me. Wow way to go Vic pd

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  6. Hopefully, this whole approach of "we believe you" right out of the gate, will not supplant that thing called "due process" , because this approach, on its face has the potential for massive abuse. I genuinely feel for those who have experienced sexual abuse/violence, but abhor those who would abuse the legal system for nefarious purposes.

    After all, take the phrase "Listen and Believe", remove a few letters, and you have "Is a Lie".

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