Strengthening Police Accountability Regarding Secondary Victimization

• In Event: Contemporary Challenges in Victimization and Justice Responses

Abstract

Secondary victimization refers to further harm, trauma, or distress experienced by a person who has already been a victim of a crime. It occurs after the primary (or initial) victimization and can significantly impact a victim’s ability to cope, heal, and seek justice. It occurs not as a direct result of the criminal act, but through the response of institutions and individuals to the victim.
The police is an organization that should identify the needs of victims to ensure against repeat or secondary victimization. Police officials can (un)willingly or (un)knowingly inflict additional harm through insensitive questioning, lack of support, denial or disbelief, or stigmatization.
The EU Victims' Rights Directive of 25 October 2012 establishes minimum standards on the rights and protection of victims of crime. This Directive lays down minimum rules. Member States may extend the rights set out in this Directive in order to provide a higher level of protection. Belgium already established an extensive safety net of institutions and organizations for victim care.
The Ghent Police Force made impressive improvements over the years and continues to strive for optimal treatment of every victim in our city. Of course, we are aware of our shortcomings and weaknesses. We continuously work on solutions to address them. On the one hand, we offer highly developed Victim Protection with a strongly performing Victim Care Office and very specialized colleagues (cf. reporting hate crimes). On the other hand, we face two major challenges: achieving increased awareness and offer trauma-informed training to all officers.
We see opportunities in group conversations and dilemma training. During a dilemma training, participants with different ranks and from different department discuss practical cases and the ethical decision-making process to reflect on deontological issues.

Author

• Kim Covent, Lokale Politie Gent