0420307-1 Warrant-Officer A N J D NEL

Hello ladies and gents I am Warrant officer Andre Nel of the Family, Child and Sexual Offence Unit of the South-African Police Service. The topic I want to speak to you is: How to treat a victim of a sexual offence: People the most imported thing that you must remember is that the victim who stand in front of you is a person who suffers from severe trauma. Whatever happened to the victim will affect that person for the rest of his/her life, and the lifes of the victims family. During the commission of a sexual offence the victim normally experience feelings of powerlessness, helplessness and being exposed. On the day of the sexual offence something is being taking from that person that can never be given back. You ladies and gentlemen you must prevent that the victim is not been rape again, when reporting to the office at the police. What do I mean by rape again? Secondary Trauma When reporting the case to a Police official that victim will relives that event again and in doing so will suffer from secondary trauma. Interview that victim in a sensitive manner and dont touch that victim. On the other hand the secondary trauma is lessened if the victim is permitted to have a person present of his or her choice to support and re-assure him or her during the interview.

The very first thing that you must remember when that victim said to you: I am raped or mention any other sexual offence is: A Immediately ask the victim to accompany you to an appropriate area which is away from the main desk in the Community service centre and is out of sight and hearing of other persons in the community service centre. Re-assures the victim that he or she is now safe and will be protected. If the victim and the allege offender are in domestic relationship, the member must advice the victim in accordance with the National instruction on domestic Violence. Determines if the victim requires immediate medical assistance and if so make the arrangements for the victim to obtain medical assistance as soon as possible. Ask the victim whether he or she would prefer to have another person of his or her choice present during the interview to support him or her. If the victim prefers that such a person is present allow such a person to be present.

Reassure the victim that he of she did the right thing to report the matter to the police and that the matter will be dealt with sensitively and that he of she will not be exposed to further traumatization Listen to what the victim says without interrupting him of her and put him of her at ease, AND MOST IMPORTENT: TAKE NOTES: WRITE EVERTHING DOWN THAT THE VICTIM SAYS TO YOU AS IT MAY BE EVIDENCE LATER IN COURT.

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Ladys and gents these are the guidelines that is set out in the National instruction 3 of 2008 of sexual offenses on how to treat a victim. But you as a member of the FCS unit, let the guidelines of how to treat a victim come out of you hart. Treat every victim the same as if it is your wife, child,sister or any person you love. Treat the victim with the same kindness and dignity as you would like to be treated if that offence was committed to you. The way you treat the victim is the first impression that the victim gets of how her or his case will be handle and carry it with them for the rest of there lifes.

I thank you.