The Toronto police response to allegations of sexual assault against former CBC Radio host Jian Ghomeshi proves one thing, says a spokesperson for the Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter.

“It shows what we always knew, that when…the police is diligent, it is capable of conducting [a] fast, thorough investigation that leads to appropriate charges,” Hilla Kerner told the Straight in a phone interview. “So that should be an example of how the police should handle all complaints from women about sexual violence.”

Kerner claimed that, often, this isn’t the kind of action that women get when they report attacks.

“Now there is a standard that we want all police in all cases of male violence against women to follow,” Kerner said.

Sexual assault is among the crimes least likely to be reported to the police, according to a review by Canada’s Department of Justice. The study indicated that one-third of victims who did not go to the police felt that the police could not do anything. About a fifth (18 percent) believed that the police would not help them.

In the Ghomeshi case, Toronto police opened an investigation on October 31. Less than a month later, on November 26, it laid five criminal charges against the fired host of CBC’s Q radio show. Kerner acknowledged that the publicity generated by the controversy is a likely factor behind the prompt police action.

However, she said police often reflect society’s “sexist culture”, which tolerates male violence against women.

That is unacceptable, Kerner maintained. “The police have a particular responsibility and a duty to protect women from male violence, and we should press them to do that. And, obviously, there is a much more positive climate [now] to encourage that and support it.”