Updates to BC Sex-Offender Registration Centres

Summary#

These are final changes to the Regulations Amending the British Columbia Sex Offender Information Registration Regulations: SOR/2024-234. They add, remove or update several police locations that serve as registration centres for people who must be on the sex-offender registry in British Columbia. The changes came into force on November 29, 2024 (or on the day the regulations were registered if that was later).

What it does#

• Adds a new designated registration centre: Daajing Giids RCMP detachment, 3211 Wharf Street, Daajing Giids (listed as Item 30.1).
• Replaces an existing listing with: Fort St. John RCMP detachment, 10712 100th Street, Fort St. John (new Item 39).
• Replaces an existing listing with: Lytton RCMP detachment, 531 Main Street, Lytton (new Item 62).
• Replaces two listings with:
  • Nootka Sound RCMP detachment, 495 Maquinna Crescent, Gold River (new Item 75).
  • North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment, 6430 Ford Road, Duncan (new Item 76).
• Removes (repeals) Item 95 from the schedule.
• Replaces the Surrey listing so the designated centre is now Surrey Police Service, 14355 57th Avenue, Surrey (replacing the previous Surrey RCMP detachment at Item 117).
• Removes (repeals) Item 130 from the schedule.
• These changes update the list of police agencies people must use to register under the Sex Offender Information Registration Act.

Who's affected#

• People in British Columbia who are required to register as sex offenders. They may need to go to a different police office because addresses or the named agency have changed.
• The named police agencies and detachments, including Surrey Police Service, various RCMP detachments, and local police services listed above.
• It is not clear from the notice whether any specific individuals will be moved from one registration centre to another; the changes are to the official list of locations.

Why it matters#

• The notice changes where people on the sex-offender registry must go to register or update information. That matters for travel time and which office handles a person's file.
• Replacing the Surrey RCMP detachment with the Surrey Police Service means Surrey-based registrants will deal with a different police organization.
• Updating addresses or removing listings can affect small or remote communities if their nearest registration centre has changed.