Police have to treat claims involving children quickly, even if they turn out to be false

PORT MOODY (NEWS 1130) – Worried Port Moody parents are likely relieved to learn what was reported as an abduction of a teenaged girl last week didn’t actually happen. Police are left with little choice but to treat the account as true, until they find out otherwise.

A 14-year-old girl told police she was taken by three men in a newer white van while she was walking along David Avenue on November 17th. She told police she was driven around for about an hour and a half and released. Police sent out a warning that day.

Port Moody Police say they are obligated to investigate and warn the public when vulnerable groups, like children, are involved. They say the girl won’t be charged, but the investigation isn’t over. Police add the sensitive nature of the case prevents them from giving any comment.

Former West Vancouver Police Chief Kash Heed understands why police treated the report the way they did. He says police might not have taken a report like this as seriously in the past, but they’re watched very closely and judged harshly now. “There have been mistakes made in responding to incidents not only of this nature but other police incidents here in British Columbia. They’re going to err on the side of caution of putting more resources into it.”

Heed wonders if police should’ve taken more time with this one. “We need to get confirmation and have a level of comfort that the reporter is actually telling us the way it happened versus not and I think we’ve got to spend a little more time to confirm the information.”

AUDIO: Hear all the details of what Kash Heed had to say:

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