Strathcona County RCMP and SAFFRON Centre Implement a Supported Reporting Protocol for Sexual Assault Survivors

Strathcona County, Alta. – The Strathcona County RCMP is proud to be collaborating with SAFFRON Centre in the implementation of a Supported Reporting Protocol (SRP).

The SRP has been established in the hopes of increasing comfort levels in reporting sexual assaults and offering more freedom of choice surrounding the reporting process itself.

Ultimately, it allows the survivor to choose where they feel most comfortable reporting and whether they would like a Victim Advocate to accompany them into the room for their police interview. Survivors will now have the ability to provide a statement to police at the SAFFRON Centre rather then a police station if they wish to do so.

The SRP can be applied to any non-urgent sexual assault complaints brought to Strathcona County RCMP during Saffron business hours. Non-urgent is defined as complaints that are not the result of a 911 call, and that do not require a visit to the hospital for immediate forensic examination.

Sexual assault/ abuse/ exploitation files involving victims under the age of 16 will continue to be referred to the Zebra Child Protection Centre in Edmonton, Alta., whose staff specialize in supporting children and youth through the police and court process.

“The Supportive Reporting Protocol between SAFFRON Centre and the RCMP in Strathcona County is an important initiative that allows survivors of sexual assaults to report in a comfortable setting away from the police station,” says S/Sgt. Andrew Kyle of the Strathcona County General Investigation Section. “Survivors will also have access to the many support systems that SAFFRON has available in dealing with victims of trauma.”

The dedication of our community partners is vital to the work we are doing collaboratively to support survivors and bring awareness to the public. May is Sexual Assault Awareness month and grateful that this protocol is available for survivors of sexual assault.

For more information about SAFFRON Centre go to www.saffroncentre.com.

If you are a survivor of, or witness to, sexual violence or any criminal activity, please report it to local police.