Sex assault cases wrongly labelled 'unfounded' prompt Calgary police reform

The Calgary Police Service has started a one-year pilot project aimed at making sure sex assault cases are properly investigated after an internal review found that dozens of files were given the wrong classification.

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Insp. Monty Sparrow shared details at the Calgary Police Commission's monthly meeting on Tuesday evening, revealing that officials discovered 48 sex offences that were incorrectly coded as "unfounded" police lingo signifying that investigators believe no offence took place or was even attempted.

The force began reviewing cases after a 2017 Globe and Mail article reported 10 per cent of Calgary sexual assault complaints were deemed unfounded.

CPS says the problem stemmed from inadequate training and that fact that some frontline personnel misunderstood what criteria should be used to determine the status of cases.

Sparrow says a highly trained sexual offence co-ordinator has now been appointed to prevent any more errors.

"The intent was to, first off, to ensure that cases weren't coded improperly, and, secondly, to offer investigative avenues to our street personnel to assist them, because they don't have the experience that this individual has," he said.

Re-coded as 'inactive'

Sparrow says the incorrectly classified cases have been re-coded as "inactive."

"So there was evidence in the investigation to prove the offence occurred but there wasn't enough evidence in the investigation to identify the offender," he said.

Police commission chair Brian Thiessen said it's an important distinction.

"It sounds like just language, but when you code sexual assaults as unfounded, it gives victims the impression that they are not being heard, that the police didn't believe them."

Police Chief Roger Chaffin saysthe number of sex offence complaints has risen substantially,partly because of movements like #MeToo.

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