Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 15:57:41 -0700
From: moe <moe@kootenaycuts.com>
Subject: [KCUTS] Some GOOD news!: Police Board opposes spousal abuse changes
NOTE:
The deadline for public response to the government proposal is October 28,
2002.
Police Board opposes spousal abuse changes
Vancouver - The Vancouver Police Board is calling on the provincial
government to drop its plans to change its spousal assault policy.
The board is backing officers who say the new policy would set the province
back 20 years.
B.C. Attorney General Geoff Plant has said he's considering giving Crown
counsel the option of deciding whether a spousal assault is "serious"
enough before laying charges.
INDEPTH: Spousal assault discussion paper
http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/legislation/spousal-assault/discussion.htm
Vancouver Police Inspector Barbara Morris says the Crown shouldn't be given
that much power.
"Where on the face of it one offence may appear to be fairly minor, when we
look at the totality and do an investigation we find its a significant
case," she says.
The provincial government is also suggesting that some cases would better
be solved with "alternative measures", including peace bonds or
counselling.
However, Morris says there already isn't enough support for victims.
She also says that if abusers aren't charged, their victims are not likely
to come forward.
The deadline for public response to the government proposal is October 28,
2002.
--
http://www.kootenaycuts.com/
"S/he who fears not the death of a thousand cuts will dare to unhorse the
emperor."
- Ancient Chinese proverb
--