Mobile Access Project played a role in crimes

Vancouver Sun
June 20, 2009


Your lead editorial of June 17 was absolutely bang-on in terms of why the provincial government's decision to cut funding to the Mobile Access Project -- a van that offers street workers condoms, needles, protection, information and refreshments -- is utterly unconscionable.

Vulnerable women working in the sex trade continue to be targets for violence, and many of them don't trust the police to handle adequately any information or intelligence they provide.

The MAP van staff were the recipients of hundreds of tips and bad date reports, which found their way to police.

These often provided the missing pieces to investigative puzzles, helping to get violent, sadistic men off the low track.

If we've learned anything from the last decade of carnage on the Downtown Eastside, it's that drug-addicted sex trade workers will not go to police if they believe that will affect their access to drugs or their safety, but they will talk to outreach workers they come to know.

The incredibly short-sighted decision to cut this program will result in increased sexual assaults and other serious assaults on these women.

Once again, the cost of solving these crimes will far outweigh the minuscule investment in programs like the van.

Lori Shenher

Vancouver
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Lori Shenher is the former lead detective on the Vancouver Missing Women case.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Mobile+Access+Project+played+role+solving+crimes/1715616/story.html

On Lori Shenher

http://www.missingpeople.net/news_articles_with_former_lead_d.htm