Saint Lucia: Police procedures in cases of rape, including whether medical evidence is gathered; police policy and procedures in cases where a police officer is related to or is associated with the perpetrator
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Publication Date | 8 November 2013 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | LCA104672.E |
| Related Document(s) | Sainte-Lucie : information sur les procédures de la police dans les cas de viol, y compris de l'information indiquant si des preuves médicales sont recueillies; information sur les politiques et les procédures de la police lorsqu'un policier est apparenté à l'agresseur ou lié à celui-ci |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Saint Lucia: Police procedures in cases of rape, including whether medical evidence is gathered; police policy and procedures in cases where a police officer is related to or is associated with the perpetrator, 8 November 2013, LCA104672.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/546dd5e04.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In a 31 October 2013 telephone interview with the Research Directorate, a constable with the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force provided the following details regarding police procedures in cases of rape:
When there is a report of a rape, the responding police officers will first take the victim to a doctor for treatment and examination. In the south, the person will be brought to St. Jude Hospital [in Vieux-Fort], while in the north, the person will be brought to Victoria Hospital [in Castries].
A doctor will conduct a forensic examination using a sexual assault evidence kit to gather samples, such as oral, buccal and other intimate swabs. The samples will then be sealed and placed in the kit, which is also sealed to be sent to Saint Lucia's forensic laboratory for testing. The doctor will also conduct a general physical examination, including blood and urine tests. If necessary, an emergency contraception anti-pregnancy tablet will also be provided. Police officers will also coordinate with "Human Services" to provide counseling to the victim and may refer the victim to a crisis centre or coordinate with the family court, as applicable (St. Lucia 31 Oct. 2013).
The US Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012 similarly states that in Saint Lucia "cases of domestic violence and crimes against women and children" are heard by the family courts (US 19 Apr. 2013, 9). Country Reports for 2012 also states that victims of domestic violence and of crimes against women and children are assisted by the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Human Services, and Gender Relations and that the police's Vulnerable Persons Unit, which is "designed to handle cases involving violence against women and children" and works closely with the Family Court and the Ministry's Department of Gender Relations and Department of Human Services and Family Affairs (ibid.).
The constable also provided the following information on additional police procedures in cases of rape:
Investigating police officers will gather evidence at the crime scene and will record statements from victims and any witnesses. The police officers will also gather non-intimate samples from victims, such as hair and clothing (Saint Lucia 31 Oct. 2013).
Officers will attempt to confirm the identity of the perpetrator, such as by conducting an ID confrontation [commonly known as a police line-up] to allow the victim to confirm the identity of the perpetrator. Officers will arrest the perpetrator if evidence warrants it (ibid.).
If "not comfortable" investigating a specific crime, a police officer may request to be removed from a case. However, the constable was "not aware" of a specific policy if a police officer was in a conflict of interest regarding a case, such as being related or otherwise associated to persons involved in a crime (ibid.).
Corroborating information, or information regarding whether police procedures are always followed in practice, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Saint Lucia. 31 October 2013. Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF). Telephone interview with a constable in the Vulnerable Persons Unit.
United States (US). 19 April 2013. "Saint Lucia." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012. [Accessed 6 Nov. 2013]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral Sources: A practicing lawyer in Saint Lucia who works with women who are victims of violence was not able provide information for this Response. A representative of the Division of Human Services of the Saint Lucia Ministry of Health, Wellness, Human Services and Gender Relations did not provide information within the time constraints of this Response. Attempts to contact the Medical Director of St. Jude Hospital were unsuccessful within the time constraints of this Response.
Internet Sites including: Amnesty International; Caribbean Policy Development Centre; ecoi.net; Factiva; Freedom House; Government of Saint Lucia; Helen Television System (HTS) St. Lucia; Human Rights Watch; Saint Lucia Online; Saint Lucia Star; St. Jude Hospital; United Nations - Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, Refworld; United States - Department of State; Victoria Hospital; The Voice.