What after ‘Godforsaken’? “More attention should be paid to detection of sexual violence” | Domestic

Swennen, who is a chief inspector with a specialization in psychosocial matters at the police in Antwerp, illustrated her argument with two cases. Both cases involved adult young men who were arrested after a rape and both of whom, after further investigation, revealed that they had previously committed several sexual offenses that had remained under the radar.

For example, one of them was excluded from the scouts and his student club because of those facts and, after investigation, the other turned out to have already had nine victims. Neither of the two had previously come into the sights of the police, the judiciary or social services, Swennen said. She wondered what could have been done to intervene in time.

The chief inspector pointed out the importance of early detection. “We must focus even more on recognizing danger, but also recognizing it. Police and emergency services are not always involved. Sometimes a rumor is limited to something that happened in a student club, sports club, at school or in the scouts. When you put all those pieces of the puzzle together, you get a clear picture,” Swennen said. “I have often been told: you are not always going to be able to prevent everything. But I am convinced that we can prevent more than we realize today.”

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According to Swennen, this can be done by focusing even more on training people who interact with young people. They should be able to recognize those signals and then work on them. “Teachers, sports coaches, consultants, general practitioners,… I am convinced that we can expect more from them.”

Swennen also pointed out the declining role of the Church. “There are fewer clericals than ever. Where are they now, those potential perpetrators? They can no longer hide behind the institute.” The majority of sexual offenses that take place today occur in a familiar context by a trusted perpetrator who abuses his position of power based on a relationship of trust. “For example, the family, sports club, scouts. You don’t recognize what you don’t know,” Swennen added.

Claire Cervello, who is chief inspector in the Brussels Capital Ixelles police zone, also pointed out the importance of detection. She also made a plea to the committee for more prevention. “As far as I am concerned, you should invest massively in preventive information, from an early age,” says Cervello. “If you work on respect and consent from an early age, victims may find it easier to say no. And perpetrators must also learn that no means no and that is how we can reduce the number of files.”