Stranger Assaults and Being a Good Witness –
If you pay any attention to the Vancouver news then you’re probably aware that there have recently been some alarming incidents of stranger assault in the city. Some of these have been caught on video and have been shared widely.
Deputy Chief Howard Chow of the Vancouver Police Department reports that police are receiving on average four reports a day of people being assaulted by strangers. Many of these assaults are being carried out by “a new category of offender,” many with hundreds of police interactions on their records. Mental health is often a factor.
Constable Kimberly Albright, the Neighbourhood Police Officer for Hastings Sunrise, says these assaults are a high priority issue for the VPD. She emphasizes the importance of being a good witness. “Trust your guts. If something doesn’t feel right, then report it to the police. Better to have something reported to police than not, so they can determine if it’s relevant.”