Complaints raise concerns about how NB RCMP handles some allegations of sexual violence

Police and Public Trust, a project of CBC News Atlantic’s investigative unit, examines police complaint and discipline systems that are largely outlawed across the region. Journalists use access to information laws and, in some cases, go to court to obtain disciplinary records and data.

Three years ago, a Moncton-area RCMP officer was accused of belittling and laughing at a woman while taking a sexual assault complaint.

That same year, another complaint came from the Oromocto region from someone who felt the investigation of sexual abuse involving his daughter was inadequate. He also said they did not have up-to-date information on his condition.

The RCMP found that both complaints could not be proven, but they are examples of more than 30 allegations from the public regarding how RCMP officers in New Brunswick investigate complaints of sexual violence.

CBC Investigates obtained eight years of complaints about how the RCMP investigated a range of crimes; these complaints led to a total of more than 2,600 allegations against the RCMP.

Data were obtained through information retrieval as part of the CBC. ongoing Police and Public Trust projectThis brings the public to the often opaque police complaints and discipline systems in Atlantic Canada.

Of the more than 2,600 claims made against the RCMP, only three per cent were found to be supported. Half were found to be unsupported, 17 percent were informally resolved, and 16 percent were withdrawn. Some were still under investigation when the data was sent to CBC.

Another complaint from the Sackville area in 2018 was unofficially resolved after a woman said she was yelled at over the phone by an RCMP sergeant “when she tried to ask why her sexual assault complaint was being disposed of without any charges.” He also said the RCMP did not conduct a thorough investigation into his case.

Andie Marks works with Sexual Violence New Brunswick as an advocate for people experiencing sexual violence. He works with the RCMP to review sexual violence case files on a quarterly basis and said he hopes complaints against the RCMP will help everyone do better.

“I think all of these complaints are things that will allow the RCMP to take action to prevent incidents like this from happening again, and we can support them in that work,” said Marks, of Sexual Violence New. Brunswick’s leader of justice.

increased education

According to the provincial government’s crime control panel, 2,168 sexual assaults and 1,138 “other sexual violations” were reported to the RCMP between 2018 and 2022.

Approximately 47 percent of sexual assault charges and 55.5 percent of “other sexual violations” were “cleared.” This means that the police charged someone, recommended that charges be filed against someone, or had enough information to file a charge or recommendation but did not do so for various reasons, such as the death of a witness.

In recent years, the RCMP introduced a course for sex crime investigators that is mandatory for front-line officers across Canada, according to New Brunswick RCMP spokesman Cpl. Hans Ouellette.

The agency still does not have 100 percent of its officers trained in the specialized skills needed to interview victims. But as of October, 61 per cent of the RCMP’s workforce in the province had taken the course, including 86 per cent of front-line officers.

“With the advancements in our protocols, the advancements in our training and all of that, we really want to make sure the public understands that the RCMP is there to listen,” Ouellette said. he said. “We will hear you and believe you.”

Forty police officers have been specially trained to interview children experiencing sexual violence/

Another training course, offered by Sexual Violence New Brunswick, focuses on providing a trauma-informed response.

Beyond the training, Ouellette noted a guide designed for front-line investigators and the hiring of a coordinator to oversee the response to sexual violence cases statewide.

This person sits on many committees, coordinates with the committee that reviews sexual assault investigation case files, and “makes sure we continue to support victims and survivors of sexual assault and really focus on what the trends are, what’s happening, and how it’s happening.” We can better support our victims,” Ouellette said.

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He added that it was “discouraging” to hear about a 2021 complaint in which a woman alleged an officer belittled her and laughed at her.

“I’m really sorry to hear that individuals have had that type of experience because it’s absolutely, absolutely not in line with the values ​​of the RCMP and particularly the values ​​of the RCMP members here in the division.”

Deficiencies found in the review

The changes come after a 2017 review found problems in the way the New Brunswick RCMP investigated sexual violence. This was prompted by a national investigation by the Globe & Mail into false cases of sexual assault.

A review of the New Brunswick RCMP found that very few of its members – 52 out of more than 800 – had received special training to investigate sexual violence. Even fewer were trained to interview children, a task often left to Provincial Social Development Department staff.

“Researchers will be better prepared to interact with individuals who have experienced trauma and will better understand the responses of minds and (bodies) to trauma situations, such as gaps in memories or missing details in memories of events,” the report said. More education is needed.

The review also found a lack of documentation, problems in interview techniques and a lack of witness statements. The review examined cases from 2011 to 2016.

In the report’s conclusion, the RCMP acknowledged “deficiencies” revealed by the review and promised to make changes.

But in 2022, the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission, which handles complaints about the RCMP, noted that there had been 43 “adverse findings” in sexual assault cases involving the RCMP across Canada since 2019. CBC analysis of these findings It found RCMP officers still continue to take allegations of sexual assault seriously and grapple with issues surrounding consent.

A statement from the commission two years later said its work “directly impacted” some of the improvements the RCMP has made in how it handles sexual assault cases, including the creation of a national sexual assault investigation course and changes to national policy on sexual assault. Conducting research and creating a best practices guide.

Lawyer calls for expansion of case review committee

The complaints investigated by CBC are the type of incidents that Sexual Violence New Brunswick is trying to stop.

Much of the organization’s work is about reducing what it calls collateral injury for people who have experienced sexual violence. Those initial interviews with police were “tremendous,” Marks said.

“Even if there is no conviction, even if there are no charges, if the survivor is treated well by the actors in the criminal justice system, if they feel listened to, if they feel believed, if they are believed, if there is a thorough investigation, or if the police officer or other person does everything they can in the context of this case.” “If they did, survivors tell us it was still a very trying experience, but they felt like they had a chance to get justice.”

Marks said since the review in 2017, New Brunswick RCMP has found “increased openness” to working with organizations like his.

This may be through training or regular review of case files; This has sometimes led to cases being reopened after review by lawyers.

She said it has also led to policy changes, such as creating softer interview rooms that feel more comfortable and moving away from using so-called KGB statements by default when interviewing survivors. KGB statements are videotaped statements that often include a warning about the consequences of making false statements; Marks said this can be difficult to hear for a survivor who fears no one will believe them.

Marks wants the committee that reviews these cases to be expanded so that any survivor who wants their case reviewed can do so.

She also would like to see more sexual violence coordinators hired and expanded statewide.

“Rural policing looks very different than urban policing, and so I think the people who provide that mentoring and review need to be able to recognize what those unique aspects are,” he said.