Unfounded Sexual Assault Internal Review Results Released
News release
September 20, 2018 – Ottawa – National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces
The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (CFNIS) has completed an internal review of all 2010-2016 Canadian Forces Military Police (CF MP) sexual assault files concluded as unfounded. CFNIS assigned a member that reviewed the 179 files from early 2017 until July 2018 revealing that:
- 113 cases remained as unfounded following this review;
- 43 cases had been misclassified; and
- 23 cases were identified for further investigation.
The Canadian Forces Provost Marshal and CF MP Group Commander directed the CFNIS to conduct the internal review following the Globe and Mail publication in 2017 of its two-year investigative report into unfounded cases of sexual assault.
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Quotes
“I was invited to conduct a review of our files as a means to assess the situation within the Military Police investigative files and take corrective action if necessary. This review was beneficial in many ways and we continuously assess best practices to ensure DND and the CAF communities receive the highest standard of policing service.”
Lieutenant-Colonel Kevin Cadman, Commanding Officer, Canadian Forces National Investigation Service
Quick facts
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The CFNIS is a unit within the independent CF MP Gp whose mandate is to investigate serious and sensitive matters in relation to Department of National Defence (DND) property, DND employees and CAF personnel serving in Canada and around the world.
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From 2010-2016, the Military Police investigated 757 sexual assault cases. Following this review, 14 percent (113 cases) of those remain classified as unfounded from the original 23.6 percent (179 cases).
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The CFNIS average unfounded rate from 2010-2016 has been declining with the rate dropping from 17.6 percent in 2010 to 8 percent in 2016, which is below the average unfounded rate of 19 percent for Canadian Policing.
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The 43 misclassified cases have been re-coded to reflect more accurately the findings of the investigations.
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CFNIS has re-opened the 23 cases identified for further investigation. In each case, investigators may require additional interviews, better documentation or the use of other investigative tools.
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Contacts
Major Jean-Marc Mercier
Public Affairs Officer
Canadian Forces Provost Marshal and Canadian Forces Military Police Group
Phone: 613-949-1098
Email: jean-marc.mercier@forces.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca
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