rape-1462995326-The findings from the national 'Unfounded' report from the Globe and Mail look at the way the crime of sexual violence is dealt with by police services across the country and in Grey Bruce. On average in Canada one in five claims of sexual assault are dismissed by police as "unfounded" − a formal police classification that means, "A crime was neither attempted, nor occurred". The numbers are much higher for all police services in our region, as reported in the Owen Sound Sun Times. The report shines a light on the complex and inconsistent way that the justice system responds to the crime of sexual violence in Canada and raises many important questions for police and our community:

  • Why do the number of cases of sexual violence that are considered 'unfounded' differ so greatly between the various police services in Grey and Bruce: Saugeen Shores 27%, Bruce Peninsula OPP 28%, Hanover Police Services 38%, South Bruce OPP 39%, West Grey 42%, Grey OPP 43% and Owen Sound Police Services Grey OPP 51%?
  • Why is the number of cases of sexual violence considered 'unfounded' so much higher in Grey Bruce than the national average: Canadian average 19%, Grey Bruce average 38%?
  • Why do rural communities in Canada have dramatically higher rates of 'unfounded' cases compared to large urban communities?
  • How do unfounded cases impact on victims of sexual violence and our community?
  • What do police services, in partnership with community services and survivors, need to do to ensure a consistent and trauma informed response for victims of sexual violence?

    • Over the past two years Violence Prevention Grey Bruce has focused its work on sexual violence prevention. We held a unique series of Community Round Tables with diverse members of our region to start talking about sexual violence prevention. The discussion was rich, affirming, and energizing, and together we built a roadmap for change. We called these gatherings 'Into the Open' because the first step in ending sexual violence is to bring the issue into the open. Over 150 people attended the Round Tables and an Into the Open Arts Forum. People of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life talked about the silence, myths and lack of information surrounding sexual abuse, and the need for change. They used words, music and art to acknowledge the pain, loss and isolation caused by sexual violence and the need for our community to do more to support victims, help perpetrators to change, and overcome our collective silence and shame.
    Violence Prevention Grey Bruce believes that the Unfounded Report is a wake up call for our community. We will be working together with the police, justice, community service, and survivor members at our table to look at concrete ways to address concerns raised in the Unfounded report. We need to make changes and ensure victims and all community members have confidence in the community response to sexual violence.
    In April 2017 Violence Prevention Grey Bruce will conduct a Report Card on Sexual Violence Prevention – the first for our community. We invite everyone to participate in the on line report card, and be part of a path for change.
    Information on the Into the Open Report Card on Sexual Violence Prevention in Grey Bruce will be posted on our website,  in April when the Report Card is launched.

    source: media release, Violence Prevention Grey Bruce