Police officers learn how to handle rape and serious assault cases |08 February 2020
Participants, facilitators and guests in a souvenir photograph after the certificate presentation (Photo: Jude Morel)
The British high commission (BHC) has hosted a week-long interactive workshop with the Seychelles Police on handling rape and serious sexual assault cases.
The February 3 - 7 workshop was held at the Regional Fusion and Law Enforcement Centre for Safety & Security at Sea (REFLECS3) at Bois de Rose.
The workshop officially ended yesterday afternoon with a certificate presentation in a short ceremony attended by the British high commissioner, Patrick Lynch.
The workshop, which was funded by the BHC, was facilitated by Alison Eaton and Isabelle Kerr from the College of Policing and the Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis Centre, respectively. Ms Eaton has worked in law enforcement for over 30 years and Ms Kerr has over 40 years of experience with assisting victims who have been through traumatic experience.
Twenty five officers took part in the training and gained knowledge in two areas, one in developing basic rape and serious sexual assault crime scene and investigation techniques and two in dealing with the victim in a sensitive manner, with the aim of creating a team of local experts who will be able to lead perpetrators to prosecution.
HC Lynch noted that the BHC welcomed the invitation from the government of Seychelles for UK and Seychellois specialists to work together on the issue of rape and serious sexual assaults.
The joint workshop held this week will further equip officers with the expertise to handle these types of cases.
“We hope a robust policing response will serve as a strong deterrent to perpetrators and that those who have been through traumatic experiences will be able to come forward with greater confidence that their cases will be handled in a professional and sensitive manner,” said Mr Lynch.
“The workshop serves as a refresher course and at the same time a chance for us to learn something new,” said Inspector Janet Georges, a participant of the workshop.
She noted that a lot of sexual assault cases involve girls that are reported missing by their parents and further added by saying that they need more training in order to better assist victims of sexual abuse by providing them with a follow up care.