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Sex Crimes Unit

The Vancouver Police Department's Sex Crimes Unit investigates all serious sexual assaults and all serious child assaults reported to the VPD where further evidence is required to request criminal charges from Crown Counsel.

Sex Crimes Investigations

Sex Crimes investigations are complex and often rely on independent physical evidence. In most instances, a patrol investigator will be dispatched to the initial sexual assault call. If required, detectives will be called out to assist.

Call 9-1-1 to report a sexual assault.

Victims of sexual assault are encouraged to:

• get to a safe place
• go to the hospital as soon as possible (and don't shower before attending)
• ask for blood and urine samples to be taken if you suspect a drug-facilitated sexual assault
• keep the clothing you were wearing at the time of the assault

In order to collect valuable evidence, the VPD works with Vancouver General Hospital (VGH). Sexual assault victims, adults and children over the age of 14 years, are encouraged to seek the services of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program (SANE) at VGH.

The Program is confidential and staff are trained to collect evidence that can be used in court, with the victim’s consent. It is completely the victim’s choice whether or not the SANE releases the results of the exam to the police. The victim does not need to rush to a decision, and can request that the results be held by the SANE for a period of time and not released to the police.

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program (SANE)
Vancouver (604) 736-2033 or toll free 1 (866) 884-0888
Email: feedback@vch.ca

Parents or guardians of child victims under the age of 13 are encouraged to seek the services at BC Children’s Hospital.

BC Children's Hospital
(604) 875-2345 or toll-free in BC:1 (888) 300-3088
Email: comm@cw.bc.ca

Child and Youth Advocacy Centre

In April 2015, the Child Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC) was launched in Vancouver, designed specifically to support children and youth who are victims of physical and sexual abuse. The CYAC is non-profit and operates separate of the VPD and other partner agencies. It is designed to provide a more holistic and collaborative response to supporting child and youth victims and their families.

The Vancouver CYAC includes the following stakeholders:

• Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society (VACFSS)
• Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD)
• Family Services of Greater Vancouver (FSGV)
• BC Children’s Hospital
• Vancouver Police Department
• Crown Counsel
• Ministry of Justice, Victim Services Division

The goal of the CYAC multi-disciplinary team is to provide:

• a unique child- and family-friendly facility
• on-site child forensic interviewing services
• trained staff who are experts with respect to child abuse investigations
• a community education and outreach focus

Support Agencies for Victims of Sexual Assault

AMS Sexual Assault Support Centre
(604) 822-3475
Email: ashleybentley@ams.ubc.ca

Battered Women’s Support Services
(604) 687-1868 or toll free: 1 (855) 687-1868
Email: information@bwss.org

BC Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse
(604) 682-6482
Email: victimservices@bc-malesurvivors.com

BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre
(604) 875-2424 or toll-free in BC: 1 (888) 300-3088
Email: comm@cw.bc.ca

Cyber Tip Online Reporting for Child Exploitation
1 (866) 658-9022

Family Services of Greater Vancouver
(604) 731-4951

Kids Help Phone
1 (800) 668-6868
Email: bc@kidshelpphone.ca

Ministry of Children and Family Development
1 (877) 387-7027
Email: mcf.info@gov.bc.ca

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
1 (800) 843-5678

Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society
(604) 872-6723 or toll-free 1 (877) 982-2377
Email: info@vacfss.com

Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre Society
(604) 678-3790
Email: executivedirector@vacpc.org

Vancouver and Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services
(604) 436-1025
Email: againstviolence@vlmfss.ca

Vancouver Police Department Victim Services
(604) 717-2737
Email: vpd.vsu@vpd.ca

Vancouver Rape Relief & Women’s Shelter
(604) 872-8212
Email: info@rapereliefshelter.bc.ca

Victim Link BC
1 (800) 563-0808 or TTY: (604) 875-0885
Email: VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca

WISH Drop in Centre Society
(604) 669-WISH (9474)
Email: wishdropincentre@shaw.ca

Women Against Violence Against Women
(604) 255-6344 or toll-free: 1 (877) 392-7583
Email: vsp@wavaw.ca