The Toronto police are not currently investigating accusations of sexual and physical assault by former CBC star Jian Ghomeshi, police chief Bill Blair said Thursday.

At an impromptu scrum at Toronto Police headquarters, Blair said that until a victim came forward, or other evidence was presented, there could be no probe into Ghomeshi’s case.

“When these crimes are committed, we need a complainant, we need someone to come forward and say ‘this is what’s happened to me,’ and we will investigate that and we will do that as quickly and compassionately as we possibly can.”

Blair said he understands there are “many circumstances” in which victims or abuse may be hesitant to come forward to police, and stressed that the police can still provide help to a victim, even if they choose not to report abuse.

“Any person who has experienced sexual assault or victimization that even if they don’t want to report that victimization to the police for a police investigation, we would like an opportunity to connect them with Victim Services,” a city service that helps victims of crime recover.

Asked why police aren’t being proactive, given the reports of abuse published in the media, Blair said: “I don’t think it’s appropriate necessarily just to respond to media accounts.”

If new evidence ever comes forward, such as a video showing abuse, the situation could change, Blair said — but “the best evidence is a complaint.”

Blair’s comments came in the midst of a public outcry following allegations that Ghomeshi has beaten and choked women without consent and engaged in workplace harassment, among other allegations, since 2002.

Ghomeshi was fired from his job as host of popular radio show Q at the CBC Sunday. On Thursday, the public broadcaster announced it was hiring a third-party company to conduct an investigation into the slew of allegations directed at Ghomeshi.

In a brief statement on Facebook, prior to Blair’s comments Thursday, Ghomeshi said, “I want to thank you for your support and assure you that I intend to meet these allegations directly.

“I don’t intend to discuss this matter any further with the media.”

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