Ottawa police to track response to sexual and domestic assault calls

An Ottawa criminologist will reachout to women who have reported sexual assault or domestic assault to determine why some don't report or follow through after reporting incidents of violence.

Ottawa police laid charges against 668 people in domestic assault cases in 2013, according to the police service's internal statistics.

However, they acknowledge about 4,500 such calls are made to police each year, in addition toanother 1,000 calls forsexual assault.A Statistics Canada report from a decade ago found only eight per cent of victims of sexual assault even go to police.

Acting Supt. Joan McKenna saidpolice have commissioned the research to determine what they are doing right and what they could be doing better.

"This is going to benefit anyone who makes a call to serviceto help identify gaps in our service," said McKenna.

Four of every five domestic assault victims are womenand more than ninety per cent of sexual assault cases involvewomen, stats show, sopolice are focusing their attention on femalerespondents.

University of Ottawa criminologist Holly Johnson, who specializes in researching violence against women, said she and her team of students will begin surveying women next week.

"[They want to know] about the first person she spoke to, how was she treated by the 911 dispatcher, or how was she treated by the first officer on the scene, did investigators refer her to support services or victims servicesand finally, did they believe her?" said Johnson.

Victims reluctant to come forward

"Anne,"a woman CBC News spoke to who asked us not to use her real name, said she was discouraged before she even got to police.

Anne said she invited a fellow student into her room while in university, but it quickly got out of control and she was raped against her will. She said when she reported it to her residence don, she was told to drop itsaying there was no chance police would ever lay charges.

Years later, when a former classmate told her the same man was facing charges of sexual assault from multiple women, she was encouraged to come forwardbut said she couldn't pursue it.

"Ultimately what it boils down to is, was there consent? How do you prove that when it's one person's word against another?"

Anne said it is discouraging for women whenreports often aren't believed unless multiple women come forward.

"Why isn't one woman enough for it to be credible?" she asked.

On mobile? Click here to see Ottawa police sexual assault charges from 2009 to 2013.

Police hope research will lead to better training

McKenna said she recognizes the challenges for victims to come forward. She advises women tell their story multiple times to police and again in a courtroom setting.

She hopes the study will lead to better training for officers who are the first points of contact for some of these women.

The study will be completed by next spring, but even without the results, investigators like Trish Ferguson with the sex assault unit saidthey're committed to doing better now.

"For our part, we want women to know that they will be treated fairly. Our job is not to judge or blame and we want to work with them to determine what course of action is best for them," she said.

On mobile? Click here to see more information about domestic assault reports to Ottawa police from 2009-2013.

Notes from Ottawa Police:

• "These stats were compiled to closely resemble data reported to Statistics Canada. They reflect crimesagainst the person. Included in this data is the first UCR (first charge listed, which is the most seriousone) in a founded report.
• The increase between 2012-2013 may be attributed to a procedural change with internal coding and clearing practices of partner- related and sexual offences to ensure OPS methods align with police agencies across the province. This impacts the year-over-year comparison of data.
• Aggravated Sexual Assault Partner (onetotal), Sexual Assault with a Weapon Partner (twototal) & Sexual Assault Partner (19 total) were added for use in early 2013.