Police board goes the wrong way on reviewing sexual assault cases
In June 2022, Sunny Marriner from the Improving Institutional Accountability Project raised a crucial question to Halifax’s Board of Police Commissioners: Why are women who have been sexually assaulted hesitant to report their experiences to the police, and why do so few cases result in convictions? Marriner presented staggering statistics to support her case – out of 100 sexual assaults, only one results in a conviction. She proposed the implementation of a violence against women case review process (VACR) to analyze closed sexual assault cases and improve conviction rates.
Following Marriner’s presentation, then-commissioner Harry Critchley motioned to direct the Halifax Regional Police (HRP) to collaborate with Marriner’s organization and initiate an external VACR process. Progress was made, and 15 months later, a meeting was held in October 2023 to discuss the implementation of the case review in HRM. However, then-commissioners Lindell Smith and Critchley expressed frustration as they felt that the promised action was delayed due to the retirement of the old police chief.
The HRP conducted a jurisdictional scan of other case review programs and considered adopting the RCMP’s Sexual Assault Investigations Review Committee model. While the board was still contemplating the best VACR model to introduce, the HRP had already started working on integrating files into the RCMP’s review committee process. Marriner, the driving force behind this initiative, voiced her disappointment with the decision to shift towards the RCMP’s model, citing concerns with potential conflicts of interest.
In December 2024, the Board of Police Commissioners voted to implement the RCMP’s SAIRC model, allowing the police to oversee their own case reviews. This new system grants the police discretion to select cases for external review, potentially leading to conflicts of interest and biased reporting. Despite the plan for a pilot project with a review period, there are doubts about the effectiveness of this internal oversight process.
The Board’s decision raises concerns about the lack of independent oversight of police activities and accountability. The original directive for an external case review system, as proposed by Marriner and supported by Critchley, seems to have been disregarded in favor of the RCMP’s model. The future of oversight into the handling of sexual assault cases by the police remains uncertain, as the current approach may hinder transparency and impartiality.
As the pilot project unfolds, it will be crucial for the Board to critically assess the effectiveness of the SAIRC model and consider reverting to the external review process for enhanced accountability. The outcome of the pilot project will determine the future of oversight mechanisms within the Halifax police force and their approach to addressing sexual assault cases.
