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Kitchener-Waterloo

Waterloo Regional Police launch sex assault investigation task force

Waterloo Regional Police are launching a community-based task force to examine how they handle sexual assault cases, after a national investigation into how often police classify assaults as "unfounded" revealed the force dismisses over a quarter of reports.

Task force 'will create enhanced awareness as well as deliver long lasting changes.'

CBC News ·
A task force will look into reports Waterloo Regional Police officers mark 27 per cent of sexual assault reports as "unfounded." The national average is 19 per cent. (Colin Butler/CBC News)

Waterloo Regional Police have launched a task force to look into concerns the force is dismissing more than quarter of reported sexual assault complaints.

A report in the Globe and Mail found the local police force recorded 27 per cent of sexual assault investigations as "unfounded." The national average is 19 per cent.

"We believe it is important to have a larger discussion locally, provincially and nationally to discuss future practices as well as potential public policy changes," a letter from Police Chief Bryan Larkin said.

"The WRPS firmly believes that by opening our doors and engaging our community stakeholders and victim advocacy partners, the expertise and diversity of the task force will create enhanced awareness as well as deliver long lasting changes that support our victims while reducing the fear of reporting sexual violence."

In speaking with CBC News, police services board chairman Tom Galloway said Chief Bryan Larkin wants the task force to be community-based.

"This is a very underreported crime and part of the reason for that is the process. The province has to improve the process involved in this particular crime, but we need to do a better job of getting more people to report," he said.

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