The Saanich Police Department believes Integrated Units are an efficient and cost-effective way to deliver specialized police services to the residents of Saanich. Our department is part of 12 integrated units that operate in the Greater Victoria region, across Vancouver Island, and throughout the Province.
The Greater Victoria Integrated Units Annual Report can be found on our publications page.
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Capital Regional District Integrated Road Safety Unit
The Integrated Road Safety Unit (CRD-IRSU) is comprised of seconded police officers from each of the local municipal police agencies and the RCMP. CRD-IRSU’s mandate includes harm reduction on BC roadways, strategic traffic enforcement related to high-risk locations and activities, commercial vehicle enforcement, criminal interdictions, and assisting and enhancing local traffic enforcement units with strategic enforcement projects and operations.
Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit
The Saanich Police Department currently has two officers seconded to the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU). CFSEU is an independent law enforcement agency in BC staffed primarily by seconded police officers from municipal police agencies and the RCMP from throughout the province. CFSEU has a broad mandate that includes contributing to and sharing crime research and intelligence, coordinating long-term crime reduction strategies at the provincial, national and international levels, reducing gang and organized crime violence, and deterring organized crime and related violence. CFSEU uses both uniform and covert investigative techniques and policing units during the pursuit of their mandate.
Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers
Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers (GVCS) encourages members of the community to assist local law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime. We strive to overcome issues that inhibit people from sharing information with the police such as fear of reprisal, apathy, and a reluctance to get involved.
Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team
The Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) is a group of highly trained officers with specialized response capabilities and equipment. These officers go through an extensive selection process and training program, with ongoing training to maintain their skills. They are deployed in the community to support frontline and investigative units in resolving high risk critical incidents and complex police operations. These incidents typically involve elevated risk factors including the presence of weapons.
Operating 24/7, the GVERT responds to incidents in Victoria, Saanich, Central Saanich and Oak Bay and works with the RCMP to support operations in those jurisdictions. Crisis Negotiators, Incident Commanders, Tactical Officers, Medics and Explosives Technicians operate across municipal boundaries as a cohesive team. Working with the Integrated Canine Section, mental health professionals and other support services, GVERT performs a range of services which include public security and witness protection, high risk arrest and apprehension, and covert surveillance.
Greater Victoria Integrated Child Exploitation Unit
As children and youth increasingly engage with technology and social media, they face heightened risks of online sexual exploitation. The Greater Victoria Integrated Child Exploitation Unit (GVICE) combats these threats by targeting online predators and investigating crimes such as the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material; luring of minors via electronic means; sextortion; voyeurism; and the non-consensual distribution of intimate images involving individuals under 18. In addition to holding offenders accountable, GVICE promotes prevention through education and awareness programs that help families and children safeguard themselves online and on social media.
Greater Victoria Police Diversity Advisory Committee
The GVPDAC is an advisory committee comprised of police and community members, bringing together representatives of Greater Victoria’s diverse communities with members from municipal police agencies and RCMP detachments. The purpose is to build trust and improve communication and understanding around issues of mutual concern. The GVPDAC seeks to build positive relationships between police and community and to share information about the diverse cultures in Greater Victoria. The GVPDAC acts as a consultative and advisory body to the Chiefs of Greater Victoria’s police agencies.
Greater Victoria Public Safety Unit
The Greater Victoria Public Safety Unit (PSU) is an integrated unit consisting of members from all municipal police agencies in the Capital Regional District. PSU also consists of an integrated fire medic program supported by the Saanich, Esquimalt, Central Saanich and Oak Bay Fire Departments. PSU provides specialized services, advice, equipment, training and emergency response to ensure public safety, public order and investigative assistance. This includes attendance at public gatherings in support of the right to peaceful protest and to mitigate the potential for violence.
Integrated Canine Service
The Integrated Canine Service is made up of six members, one NCO and five Constables, from both the Saanich Police Department and the Victoria Police Department. ICS has eight canines providing our stakeholders with variety of canine profiles which include tracking, evidence searching, and building/ compound searching. In addition, five of our canine teams also specialize in drug/firearm detection. ICS has two single purpose explosive detection canines. These canines support our explosive technicians attached to the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team and are utilized at major events across the Region.
Mobile Youth Services Team
The Mobile Youth Services Team (MYST) is comprised of a police officer and a youth and family counsellor whose mandate is to support children and youth who may be at risk for or are being targeted for exploitation. That may include sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, and gang recruitment. Typical age ranges are 12-18, however, in recent years elementary school children have also been referred. The MYST team are support only and use a trauma informed approach to working with the youth and their families to reduce risk. MYST is an integrated team working across the CRD and receives referrals from various community partners including Island Health, School Districts, counselling and mental health organizations, MCFD, Youth Probations, other police agencies, parents and youth themselves. Referrals can be made directly to the team by email [email protected] or by calling Saanich Police Department’s non-emergency line 250-475-4321 or Pacific Centre Family Services 250-478-8357
Regional Domestic Violence Unit
The Regional Domestic Violence Unit is committed to increasing the safety and well-being of victims and families by delivering a coordinated, multi-agency response to high-risk domestic violence cases across Greater Victoria. Through strong collaboration with community partners, we provide advocacy, comprehensive risk assessment, and enhanced support for victims. We hold offenders accountable while promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through monitoring, intervention, and integrated case management—working together to build safer communities.
Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit
VIIMCU is an integrated unit consisting of police officers and civilian support staff from the RCMP, Victoria Police and Saanich Police. The primary investigational responsibilities of VIIMCU are homicide and missing persons where foul play is suspected. The unit manages and investigates major crime files within in the greater Victoria capital region and Provincial areas of the RCMP Island District using investigative techniques guided by the principles of Major Case Management. In fulfilling this mandate, VIIMCU provides assistance to other police agencies and investigative units throughout Vancouver Island, the Province and if necessary, across the country.