In an effort to help police identify trends and commonalities pertaining to sexual violence in the city, London police are launching a new anonymous online reporting tool.
Speak Out is an app created and used by the Barrie Police Service since 2021. It allows individuals who have experienced sexual assault or sexual violence to tell police about the violation without having to leave their name. The information provided through the app allows advocates and police to gain a better understanding of the sexual violence taking place in the area.
“We know that sexual assaults often go unreported, and some victims/survivors are not comfortable coming to police or reporting under their name," said Detective Sergeant Katherine Dann, head of the London police sexual assault and child abuse section. “This information will help the London Police Service gain a better understanding of the types of occurrences, the locations and the circumstances of sexual violence happening in London.”
London is the only other city to begin using the tool and will do so as a one-year pilot project. Speak Out is not the same as submitting an official report to the police. However, those who use it will be provided with a reference code in case they decide to file a formal report in the future.
Information submitted through the app can be used by police to assist investigators in ongoing or future sexual assault investigations, police said. It will also be sent to the service's sexual assault and child abuse section and crime analysis unit to aid in identifying any trends or commonalities.
An individual reporting through the online tool is required to be over the age of 18 and the sexual violence must have taken place in London, police said.
