05-05 Sexual Assault Flashcards
What is the Rationale?
Compliance with this procedure will ensure a sexual assault investigation is conducted in a timely and effective manner, balancing the needs of the victim with the requirements of the investigation, and the Toronto Police Service’s (Service) on–going commitment to support and assist victims of crime and members of the community.
What is the Supervision?
- Supervisory Officer attendance mandatory
- Divisional Sexual Assault Investigator attendance mandatory
- Officer in Charge notification mandatory at the scene of a sexual assault
- Divisional Sexual Assault Investigator or Divisional Investigator notification mandatory at the scene of a sexual assault
- Sex Crimes and Professional Standards notification mandatory when suspect/accused is a member of this Service
Procedure
The divisional sexual assault investigator, or in their absence, a divisional investigator SHALL take charge of the sexual assault investigation without delay in order to conduct a preliminary investigation. They SHALL
attend the scene, attend where the victim is located or attend any additional location deemed necessary. The divisional sexual assault investigator will assume responsibility to ensure the needs of the victim are met and ensure effective management of the crime scene, including the gathering of evidence. The victim shall be afforded privacy and consideration.
Only the Officer in Charge, the divisional sexual assault investigator, or in their absence, a divisional investigator, may request the assistance of the Detective Operations – Sex Crimes (Sex Crimes) through the Toronto Police Operations Centre (TPOC) once the preliminary investigation has been conducted.
- A preliminary investigation SHALL be conducted prior to
contacting Sex Crimes.
Ontario Regulation 354/04 (Major Case Management) made under the Police Services Act defines “sexual assaults, including sexual interference, and attempted sexual assaults, sexual exploitation and invitation to sexual touching” as major cases. The Ontario Major Case Management Manual (OMCMM) directs that a primary investigator be assigned to manage a major case. All case documents, hard–copy and electronic, SHALL be collected and managed in accordance with the filing system set out in the OMCMM.
Divisional Sexual Assault Investigator
Divisional sexual assault investigators SHALL be responsible for
investigations that do not fall within the mandate of Sex Crimes. Historical familial sexual assaults, and those where the suspect is known will generally be handled by the divisional sexual assault investigators.
Divisional Sexual Assault Investigator
- When investigating complaints of historical sexual assault, officers are reminded to be sensitive to the possibility that the person reporting the incident may be
experiencing a wide range of victim anxiety reactions including symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other symptoms of crisis or distress. These reactions may have a significant impact on the dynamics of the investigation including the interview with the person who has experienced the sexual assault.
- As with recent sexual assault investigations, the MO field in eReport SHALL be completed for historical sexual assaults.
Divisional Sexual Assault Investigator
A divisional sexual assault investigator SHALL be assigned as the lead investigator in all sexual assault cases except
- where the victim is under sixteen (16) years of age, a child sexual abuse investigator SHALL conduct the investigation
- when the incident arises out of a intimate partner violence situation as defined in Procedure 05–04, a Intimate Partner Violence Investigator (IPVI) SHALL be assigned as the lead investigator but SHALL work in conjunction with an accredited sexual assault investigator
- when the incident involves child pornography or child luring as defined in Procedure 05-24, the Internet Child Exploitation Section (ICE) SHALL be notified and will assume control over the investigation; or
- when the incident involves human trafficking for the purpose of exploiting persons or facilitating their exploitation for a sexual and/or forced labour purpose as defined in Procedure 05-31, the Human Trafficking Enforcement Team (HTET) SHALL be notified.
Notification and Assignment of Detective Operations – Sex Crimes
Sex Crimes SHALL be notified of any sexual assault where, it is determined:
- the offender is unknown
- there is ongoing risk to the community
- the occurrence involves an offence under s. 272 or 273 of the Criminal Code (CC) (sexual assault with a weapon, sexual assault causing bodily harm, wounds, maims, disfigures or endangers life)
- there are multiple victims or multiple suspects
- the occurrence involves multiple sexual acts, the use of restraints, bondage or wearing of a disguise by the offender
- the offender records the offence in any manner
- the offender removes or keeps any personal item from the victim
- the offender uses scripting by having the victim engage in prompted dialogue
- the offender uses a con or ruse, including dating services and the internet, to lure the victim
- the sexual assault is linked to another sexual assault occurrence; or
- to be a criminal offence, by an unknown offender, where sexual assault appears to have been the motive
Notification and Assignment of Detective Operations – Sex Crimes
Upon conclusion of a preliminary investigation, Sex Crimes in consultation with the preliminary investigators will determine who will take charge of an investigation, which will be based on a risk assessment.
- After business hours, the on-call Sex Crimes investigator can be contacted through TPOC.
The Unit Commander – Sex Crimes may, upon conclusion of preliminary investigation, at their discretion, take charge of any sexual assault investigation.
Incidents Involving a Member of a Police Service
Members SHALL initially consider whether the sexual assault situation being investigated may fall within the mandate of the
Special Investigations Unit (SIU). If so, responding members SHALL comply with the relevant sections of Procedure.
All allegations arising from a sexual assault incident in which the suspect/accused is a member of another police service SHALL be
reported in a timely manner to the Duty Officer of that police service by the Unit Commander of the Service division handling the investigation, or by the Duty Senior Officer – TPOC (Duty Senior Officer).
Sexual assault situations where the suspect/accused is a member of this Service SHALL be directly reported to
Sex Crimes who will conduct the preliminary investigation. Upon conclusion of the preliminary investigation, the Unit Commander of Sex Crimes/Duty Senior Officer or Sex Crimes investigator, shall notify Professional Standards (PRS) who will assume the role of case manger. Sex Crimes will assist PRS as required
PRS is designated as the Service liaison with other police services regarding Service member–involved sexual assault occurrences and SHALL be responsible for submitting a TPS 901 in compliance with the relevant procedures.
Child & Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC)
The CYAC is a section of Sex Crimes that promotes the
protection of victims; provides advocacy, treatment and ongoing support.
Child & Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC)
The CYAC will investigate child sexual and physical abuse cases that include
- physical assaults, emotional abuse, or neglect occurrences when the victim is under the age of sixteen (16) and the suspect is a caregiver, parent or a person in a position of trust or authority
- physical assaults when the victim is under the age of sixteen (16) years and the suspect is a known adult
- sexual offences when the victim is under the age of eighteen (18) years, the suspect is known, and the offences are not within the mandate of the Sex Crimes investigative office
- occurrences entitled Child in Need of Protection or Child Left Unattended.
Child & Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC)
Police officers SHALL comply with Procedure
05–06 when investigating child sexual and physical abuse cases.
- When the victim(s) is under the age of eighteen (18) years and the offender(s) is unknown contact Sex Crimes Investigative Section.
Victim Interview
Only an accredited sexual assault investigator SHALL
conduct detailed interviews with the victim. Interviews SHALL be conducted in a private and victim appropriate environment that provides for the safety and security of the victim.
The investigator may wish to delay the interview based on careful consideration of the condition of the victim and the information and evidence that is already available. Where operationally possible every effort should be made to provide an interviewer of the victim’s preferred gender.
Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centres (SA/DVCC)
Prior to transporting or attending the Women’s College Hospital (WCH) SA/DVCC, officers must contact the twenty-four (24) hour on-call switchboard number at 416-323-6400 and press “0”. The operator will then transfer officers to the on-call SA/DVCC nurse.
- There is no longer an Emergency Department at Women’s College Hospital If the victim is injured; has consumed drugs or alcohol, they cannot been seen through Women’s College and will have to attend one of the nearby Hospitals. Women’s College is closed on weekends from Friday at 2300hrs until 0730hrs on Mondays. Between 2000hrs Friday evening and Monday 0730hrs, they are fully mobile, providing service to the seven (7) emergency departments in Toronto – Mount Minai, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Michael Garron Hospital, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and St. Michael’s Hospital. The SA/DVCC nurse can be reached by telephone and will arrange to see the victim at the above noted hospitals.
Women’s College SA/DVCC operates under the “Acute Mandate” and SHALL be contacted for all sexual assault victims where the offence occurred within the previous twelve (12) days.
The Scarborough Hospital (Birchmount Campus) - 3030 Birchmount Rd.
Twelve (12) years and older
SickKids Hospital - 555 University Ave.
Under Eighteen (18) years
Women’s College Hospital - 766 Grenville St.
Sixteen (16) years and older
Trillium Health Centre - Mississauga hwy 10/Queensway
Any Age
- Divisional Sexual Assault Investigator SHALL attend the scene, where the victim is located or any additional location deemed necessary and take charge of the investigation without delay.
CFS Evidence Web-Submission System
All submissions to the Centre for Forensic Sciences (CFS) are now made through the
CFS Evidence Web-Submission System. Service members will submit evidence forms online via the interactive web application; obtain submission approval, packaging labels and track submission status. The system requires all evidence to undergo an online pre-submission review, resulting in notification of which items are approved for submission to CFS.
Police Officer
The first police officer SHALL be responsible for the
safety and wellbeing of the victim, offender management, and preservation of the evidence and crime scene while awaiting the arrival of an appropriate investigator.
Police Officer
- Upon arrival at the scene of a sexual assault SHALL
- advise the communications operator of relevant information for broadcast such as the description of the suspect (if available), direction of travel, etc.
- notify a divisional sexual assault investigator, or in their absence, a divisional investigator
- preserve the crime scene for physical and trace evidence and await the arrival of a divisional sexual assault investigator or Detective Operations – Forensic Identification Services (FIS) officer to take charge of the scene
- conduct a preliminary investigation by obtaining from the victim
o the name, address and other necessary particulars of the victim
o the date, time and location of the incident
o suspect identification and/or description
o brief overview and/or description of occurrence - where the victim has special needs (e.g. interpretation, sign language, physical and other disabilities, or cultural differences) ensure the appropriate individual or agency is contacted for assistance
- when interpreting services are required, contact Multilingual Community Interpreter Services (MCIS) and note the applicable details in the eReport
- advise the victim that a detailed statement will be obtained by a sexual assault investigator
- request that a supervisory officer attend the scene
- notify the Officer in Charge of all pertinent details
- complete notification section in eReport
- except where physical injuries warrant immediate transfer to the nearest hospital, consult with the divisional sexual assault investigator, or in their absence, a divisional investigator to determine whether the circumstances of the sexual assault dictate that the victim be transported to a SA/DVCC
- An oral swab from the victim’s mouth and swabs from any area touched by the offender should be considered.
- be guided by the Centre for Forensic Sciences (CFS) Police Submission Guidelines for the Sexual Assault Examination Kit (SAEK) (Appendix B)
- where a report is made within seventy-two (72) hours to twelve (12) days of the incident, SHALL advise the victim of the importance of attending a hospital with a SA/DVCC for the purposes of a medical evaluation, as well as the gathering of potential forensic evidence
- Consider potential to gather forensic evidence up to twelve (12) days of the incident, if suspected penile penetration of vagina.
- where a report is made after twelve (12) days of the incident, encourage the victim to seek medical attention for the purpose of personal safety and security
- if transportation by ambulance is not necessary, consider the use of an unmarked vehicle when transporting the victim to a SA/DVCC
- to reduce the necessity for the victim to recount the incident, accompany the victim to the treatment facility, and where operationally possible, wait for the victim until the completion of the medical examination at the SA/DVCC
- request the victim postpone voiding whenever possible until after the medical examination, but if voiding is necessary advise the victim to avoid wiping the genital area or to save the tissue for later submission with the sexual assault kit
- advise the victim not to bathe or change their clothes until after the medial examination. If clothes are to be changed, ensure clothes are seized for later submission with the sexual assault kit
- arrange for the victim to obtain a change of clothing
- Consider penile swab, incident to arrest, in consultation with divisional sexual assault investigator.
Police Officer
- Upon receiving sufficient information SHALL
- If known, conduct a Person Query, including a Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) and Canadian Firearms Registry On-Line (CFRO) check
- determine if the suspect/accused owns, possesses or has access to weapons, firearms, ammunition, explosives or the related authorizations, licences, certificates or permits
- consider using the search and seizure provisions contained in s. 117 CC to minimize any subsequent risk to the victim
- obtain information to help determine whether REASONABLE GROUNDS exist to BELIEVE there is a threat to safety
- complete the applicable eReports, including
o the applicable MO Detail page
o applicable details of the victim interview
o the attendance or reason for non–attendance of the supervisory officer
o not make any comments in the report on the validity or truth of the complaint
o notification of supervisors and divisional sexual assault investigators - A Firearms Interest Police (FIP) entry will be auto generated from the eReport entry and uploaded to CPIC. The FIP database in CPIC flags an individual applying for a firearms licence who has committed, or threatened to commit, an act of violence. Such a flag is not an automatic refusal to issue a licence but assists in the initial screening process or subsequent review by a Chief Firearms Officer.
- scan and attach all memorandum book notes and hardcopy reports to the original eReport
- where violence or injury has occurred, the suspect can be identified, or an accurate suspect description is available, select Yes for the BOLO option when completing the suspect Entities page
Police Officer
- Details of the preliminary investigation SHALL be recorded in the memorandum book, including
- results of the preliminary interview of the victim including
o description of the suspect(s)
o complaints of injury
o any visible injuries - results of the preliminary contact with the suspect including
o all spontaneous statements
o condition of clothing
o signs of a struggle (injuries)
o signs of drug or alcohol use
Police Officer
- Where the suspect is apprehended SHALL
comply with the applicable procedures