Tips & resources from the Surrey RCMP for a safe and healthy summer
A message from the Surrey RCMP to parents, guardians and the greater Surrey Schools community
On behalf of the Surrey RCMP, congratulations to all the students, parents, staff and administrators at Surrey Schools SD36 for completing a busy school year. We wish the graduating class of 2024 great success in their future endeavors.
With summer break almost here, we are sharing some important tips and resources to ensure a safe and healthy summer. We have provided information on a number of Surrey RCMP youth programs that are available throughout the summer months.
ONLINE SAFETY
Understanding and monitoring your child’s online activity is key to keeping an open dialogue with them about potentially harmful behaviour. Online exploitation by predators often starts through apps or games that have private messaging, one-on-one chat(s) or webcam features. Not everyone online is who they say they are.
While it can be a difficult conversation to have with your child, it is important they understand the risks of sharing images, including intimate images online. Police have seen an increase in sexual extortions, and more frequently, young males are being targeted in these extortions. Sexual exploitation, also known as ‘sextortion’ is a crime. Sextortion occurs when a criminal has received intimate images from a victim and then threatens to release those images unless the victim sends money or gift cards. This is a targeted predatory behaviour.
There is no easy or delicate way to say this – the moments, hours or days after a youth sends out an intimate image and may become a victim of a sextortion, can result in feelings of shame, isolation, despair and even thoughts of suicide. As such, it is vitally important our youth know that if this happens, there is help available. Our youth need to know that they are not alone and their life is important. There is a community and a world beyond the internet where they are valued.
An online resource, NeedHelpNow.ca can offer youth and parents a clear step by step guide on what to do and how to seek or provide help. Don't Get Sextorted has information on staying safe and getting help. The Kids Help Phone can provide urgent help in terms of emotional support and steps on what to do next.
Personal information such as first and last name, date of birth even the school where a youth attends should not be shared with strangers online. Stay on top of potentially harmful online trends by signing up for alerts via Cybertip.ca.
Our message to parents - talk to your kids about sextortion and teach them how to be safe online including what to do if they have been targeted and if they have shared explicit images. We all wish to protect our kids and everyone has a role to play. Learn about the signs of extortion and learn how to help youth not become victims to it.
YOUTH & FAMILY SUPPORT
In collaboration with the Surrey School District and City of Surrey, the Surrey RCMP will continue to proactively engage with youth at programs and events throughout the summer. These include cultural, sporting, and outdoor activities, as well as field trips and day camps for at-risk youth. A number of our youth and family intervention programs will continue to run throughout the summer. Our youth officers will be present at the Canada Day celebrations on July 1 and the Surrey Fusion festival on July 20-21.
One of our summer initiatives is a BC Lions outreach program in partnership with the Surrey RCMP and Surrey School District for youth. The program emphasizes the importance of making positive choices. Players from the BC Lions along with Surrey RCMP Youth officers will mentor and coach weekly practices to prepare participants for a flag football tournament. This is a four-week program, starting on July 9 with the final tournament taking place on August 3, 2024. If your kids are interested in this program, please reach out to the Surrey RCMP Youth Unit Officer Cpl. Jacob Cheung jacob.cheung@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
The Surrey RCMP Parent Helpline (604-599-7800) provides guidance for parents/guardians who believe their child is involved or at risk of becoming involved in criminal activity. The Surrey RCMP Family & Youth Resource Support Team (FYRST) works with youth when they first start to exhibit signs of poor decision-making and need to find attachment to other resources and supports.
As always, our police officers and support staff are always just a phone call away, 24 hours a day, through our non-emergency number at 604-599-0502.
SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING
Harmful incidents such as bullying, assaults, or other potential criminal activity need to be reported to police. Talk to your child about what it means to be a bystander and the responsibility we all have to stand up and say something if we witness someone being harmed physically or emotionally.
Encourage your child to talk to you if they have witnessed something that is upsetting, either in person or online. Surrey Schools has a dedicated website, Protecting Surrey Schools Together where youth can report anything that makes them feel unsafe.
All criminal activity should be reported to police. An emergency call to police via 911 is for when you witness a crime or suspicious activity happening in front of you. Surrey RCMP’s non-emergency number is 604-599-0502 and certain crimes can be reported online.
DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
The threat of illicit drugs being mixed with fentanyl or carfentanyl continues to pose a significant danger. Just a tiny amount of these drugs can cause serious harm or death. Fentanyl is a primary ingredient in fake oxycodone and Percocet tablets and can easily be mixed with ecstasy or MDMA. These types of drugs are popular at parties, concerts and festivals that many youth attend.
As a parent, do not assume your child is not experimenting with illicit drugs or thinking about trying them. Keep an open dialogue with your children and keep a close eye on their activities, mood and friends. For more information, visit the Fraser Health Authority’s website for drug use and over resources.
OUTDOOR EVENTS & FAMILY SAFETY
Summer is a busy time for outdoor community events, which can sometimes draw large crowds. In the excitement, it can be easy for family members to become separated, and it is not uncommon for our officers to respond to multiple missing persons incidents. Make a plan with your family in case of separation that includes a pre-arranged meeting place and some form of identification. On the day of an event, take individual photos of each child with your phone so you have an accurate description of them should they go missing. Most of all keep a close eye on children and try to stay close together.
RCMP POLICE ACADEMY
Applications are open in June and July for the Surrey RCMP Citizen and Youth Police Academy. This 9-week program begins in September and runs every Wednesday evening until November. This program is designed for students in grades 10, 11, 12 and adults with an interest in policing. Participants will follow a mock police file from beginning to end, learning about the various investigative steps, programs and specialized units in policing. Applications are due by July 30, 2024; Apply now!
Wishing you and your families a wonderful, safe and happy summer!
Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards
Officer in Charge, Surrey RCMP
