A petition calling for the Kelowna 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 Kelowna had an abnormally high number of unfounded sexual assault reports.

As first reported in the 乌鸦传媒 on Oct. 25, Statistics Canada data shows the Kelowna 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乌鸦传媒檚 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 Kelowna 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 Kelowna RCMP: report

READ MORE: 乌鸦传媒榃e represent the 40%乌鸦传媒�: Protesters swarm Kelowna 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 Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 sexual assault statistics into line with the provincial and national averages.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a first step. I think it will improve (the stats) some,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淚 think it will help some survivors or some victims. I don乌鸦传媒檛 know if it乌鸦传媒檒l do much but it乌鸦传媒檚 better than nothing. I don乌鸦传媒檛 know if it乌鸦传媒檒l make a difference but I have to try. I乌鸦传媒檝e reached a point where I have to do something productive and this feels productive.乌鸦传媒�

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乌鸦传媒檛 aware that Kelowna doesn乌鸦传媒檛 have a sexual assault unit.

乌鸦传媒淧eople need to learn how our city runs,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淓veryone乌鸦传媒檚 like, 乌鸦传媒榳ell what do you mean we don乌鸦传媒檛 have one?乌鸦传媒� Well, we don乌鸦传媒檛. And we need one.乌鸦传媒�

So far, the petition has been circulating for about a week but Friesen doesn乌鸦传媒檛 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乌鸦传媒檚 Place Coffee Shop in Orchard Park mall but Friesen said she乌鸦传媒檚 looking for other businesses to get involved as well.

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

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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