Victims Assistance

Policy No:
VA-001
Effective Date:
Date Amended:

Legislative/Regulatory Requirements

Section 42(1)(c) of the Police Services Act provides that police officers have a duty to assist victims of crime. 

Section 29 of the Adequacy and Effectiveness of Police Services Regulation requires a police services board to have a policy on victims’ assistance. 

Section 17 of the Adequacy and Effectiveness of Police Services Regulation requires the Chief of Police to establish procedures on providing assistance to victims that:

  • Reflect the principles of the Victims’ Bill of Rights, 1995; and
  • Set out the roles and responsibilities of members for providing victims’ assistance.

Board Policy

It is the policy of the Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board with respect to providing assistance to victims that the Chief of Police will:

  1. working in partnership with the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Victim/Witness Assistance Programme (VWAP) and agencies that deliver the Victim Crisis and Referral Service (VCARS) program where available, municipalities, community and social service agencies and other local organizations, promote the development of an integrated service delivery framework for providing assistance to victims, including safety planning;
  2. ensure that members of the police service are aware of victim service providers or a victim referral service available in the area;
  3. establish procedures on providing assistance to victims; and
  4. ensure that in each instance where there is police service contact with one or more victims of crime involving physical and/or psychological injury, that such victims are referred to the appropriate community service available in their area.