DATE-RAPE DRUGS CREEPING INTO PRIVATE PARTIES

Many sex assault victims rely on self-protection and don't tell
police about crimes, says report

Date rape drugs, previously a threat only in clubs and bars, are
turning up at private parties, a Victoria police officer is warning.

A report titled Violence in the Lives of Sexually Exploited Youth and
Adult Sex Workers in B.C., released this week by Justice Institute of
B.C. researchers, said sexual exploitation is often hidden in the
suburbs of Victoria because "the abuse often takes place at parties
or other social events that may look normal to most people."

"We have heard about these parties," said Const. Rick Anthony.

"The date-rape drug has crept into social circles and house parties."

Drugs such as Rohypnol, GHB and ketamine cause symptoms ranging from
dizziness to loss of consciousness and leave victims vulnerable to
sexual assaults.

"Then, sometimes, people are embarrassed or reluctant to go to
police," Anthony said.

The report singled out West Shore as an area where girls are
subjected to regular violence and abuse at parties. It said one group
of men has been exploiting girls for more than 10 years out of the
same West Shore location and police have been unable to stop it.

However, police said yesterday they do not know what location the
report is referring to.

"I have been out here a long time and I would think if it was going
on to that extent, I would have heard something about it," said Cpl.
Brian Kerr, West Shore RCMP street crimes expert.

"I think the report is just using West Shore as an example. It's no
different from outlying areas around Vancouver or Prince George," he said.

Like other areas, the West Shore is dealing with children at risk and
increasing use of such hard drugs as crystal meth by younger kids, Kerr said.

But, West Shore is not a hotbed of sexual exploitation or violence
against sex workers, he said.

Other sections of the report, focusing on downtown Victoria sex
workers, say many rely on self-protection and do not go to police
when they are assaulted.

Some count on everyday articles such as pens or stilettos for
protection and "measures such as spitting on the floor of the car
were mentioned in order to leave DNA behind in case a violent act
occurred," the report says.

Most sex workers report only extreme violence to the bad-date sheet
and avoid going to police unless they feel their life is in danger, it says.

Fear of reporting violence is a huge issue among sex-trade workers,
who may be addicted or have a warrant out for their arrest, said Jody
Paterson, executive director of Prostitutes Empowerment, Education
and Resource Society (PEERS).

"Victoria police really are terrific, but, overall, sex workers have
a healthy fear of police and doctors and hospitals. Bad things tend
to happen to them when they talk to authority figures," Paterson said.

Anthony said police have made great efforts to build up trust with
sex-trade workers and assure them that any reports of assaults or
violence will be taken extremely seriously.

Also, service providers and police from all over the capital region
meet regularly to talk about cross-boundary issues, Anthony said.

"Our line officers don't let municipal boundaries get in the way of
doing a good investigation."