Serious & Organized Crime
DRP's Serious and Organized Crime section includes the units:
Criminal Intelligence - Our Intelligence Branch is primarily responsible for gathering, analyzing and disseminating information on the criminal element within our community. Units including the Drug Enforcement Unit, Surveillance Unit, Technical Services, Warrant Liaison Unit, Gun & Gang Enforcement, Biker Enforcement, Intelligence Unit, Joint Forces Units and the Lawful Access Unit. Together these units work toward ensuring the safety of the community and to optimize the sharing of resources and information.
Investigative Services - Each Division has their own Criminal Investigative Branch. This section also includes the Robbery Unit, Human Trafficking and Financial Crimes.
Major Crime - Units under Major Crime include Homicide, Investigative Support, Special Victims Unit (Formerly Sexual Assault Unit), Domestic Violence Unit, Offender Management Unit, Polygraph, Forensic Investigative Services and E-Crimes.
To learn more about some of these units, see below.
The Durham Regional Police Service recognizes that intimate partner violence is a crime that requires additional attention and support. In conjunction with direction from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and Durham Regional Police directives, all police officers in Durham responding to any incident of intimate partner violence are instructed to complete a report.
It is police who lay charges, not the victims of intimate partner violence.
If you need to report a crime or a complaint that is intimate partner-related, please contact police at 888-579-1520. For emergencies, please dial 9-1-1.
Under the Major Crime section, the Financial Crimes Unit investigates all forms of fraud activity in Durham Region.
Thousands of Canadians fall victim to fraud each year with losses in the millions of dollars. The impact is felt by individuals, families, businesses and society as a whole. The best way to fight against fraud is by having the knowledge to recognize it before you part with your money or property.
For tips on protecting you and your loved one from fraud, visit our Fraud and Financial Crimes Prevention page.
The Durham Regional Police Homicide Unit responds to:
- All deaths believed to be caused by homicide
- All attempted homicides
- All suspicious deaths
- All deaths of children under the age of five years; providing investigative supervision to the Divisional CIB office
- All incidents of found human remains where the manner of death is believed to be homicide or is undetermined
- All missing persons where the circumstances indicate a strong possibility of foul play
- Police involved shootings where the Province of Ontario Special Investigations Unit invokes their right to investigate the Police Use of Force
- Any other investigation designated by the Chief of Police or his designate
The DRPS Human Trafficking unit ensures and fosters a balance approach in regards to investigation into human trafficking and enforcement. Members are sensitive to the needs of the victims and the community as a whole. Human Trafficking Unit members and the Durham Regional Police are committed to becoming leaders with respect to the investigation and enforcement of incident involving human Trafficking.
If you have information or inquires pertaining to Human Trafficking please contact:
Durham Regional Police Service Human Trafficking Unit 905-579-1520 ext. 5600
Crime stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
Hotline 905-579-1520 ext. 4888
For further information, please visit the Human Trafficking Crime Prevention page and stopHT.com.
Victims of sexual assault range in age from toddlers to senior citizens. One issue they all share is the enormous short and long-term impact this criminal act has on their lives.
Police officers working in our Special Victims Unit have received the latest training to help victims deal with the emotional pain and suffering caused by sexual offenders.
With the assistance of Toronto Police and the website yourchoice.to, DRPS is offering a Sexual Assault Survivors Guide to survivors of sexual assault and any one supporting someone going through a sexual assault. Please find the guide here: Sexual Assault - Survivors Guide. Thanks to TPS and yourchoice.ca for their assistance in developing this guide.
The Special Victims Unit shall be responsible for the investigation of the following incidents:
1. Sexual assaults where the victim is, or was under eighteen years of age at the time of the offence.
2. Serious sexual assaults where the suspect is not known.
3. Sexual assaults of a serial nature.
4. Allegations of physical abuse where the victim is currently under 16 years of age and the suspect is in a position of trust or authority with them, or the suspect is a caregiver.
5. Criminal harassment in which the offender is not known to the victim.
The members of the Special Victims Unit maintain a positive working relationship with our community agencies providing information and support to victims of sexual assault and child abuse. Please see below for links to some of our partner agencies:
Durham Children's Aid Society
Durham Rape Crisis Centre
Durham Region Domestic Violence / Sexual Assault Care Centre
The Denise House
Lukes Place
Canadian Centre for Child Protection