How do I...
If the crime you are reporting is an emergency, call 9-1-1.
If the crime you are reporting is not an emergency, you can call the non-emergency line at 604-525-5411 or attend our Front Counter at 555 Columbia Street, New Westminster, BC.
New Westminster – The New Westminster Police Department is sharing personal safety tips people can take if they are meeting up with people they’ve met online.
- Consider meeting in a familiar, public place such as a café, restaurant, bar, or library.
- Create an exit plan in advance, so you know what to do if you ever feel unsafe.
- Make sure you’re in charge of your own transportation and have a plan to get home.
- Tell a trusted friend where you’re going and set up check-in times with each other. Take a profile screenshot of the person you’re meeting and share with a trusted friend.
- Consider sharing your real-time location with a trusted friend through an app like Google Maps or Find My Friends.
- Verify the person by searching their social media profiles.
- If someone shows up unexpectedly with other people, be extremely cautious. Do not go to a private location with more than one person.
“There are risks involved in meeting up with online dates, both in terms of physical safety and getting robbed,” stated Media Relations Officer Sergeant Andrew Leaver. “We support you in taking precautions to protect yourself from scammers and ill-intentioned dates.”
In addition to the safety tips shared above, many apps have options for account verification, mechanisms for reporting suspicious accounts, and additional safety advice. If you have been victimized by someone you met online, know that the New Westminster Police Department and our Victim Assistance Unit is here to support you.
– 30 –
CONTACT PERSON: Sergeant Andrew Leaver
EMAIL: communications@nwpolice.org
