Important Information if You Have a Vulnerable Loved One in Mississauga

Published May 9, 2018 at 8:17 pm

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Family members and caregivers in Mississauga can proactively provide information to police as part of the vulnerable person registry.

It’s a voluntary service offered throughout Peel Region which may help police during an emergency situation.

A vulnerable person is defined as a person who, due to a medical, mental health or physical condition, may exhibit patterns of behaviour that may pose a danger to themselves or to others. This could include an inclination to wander, the inability to communicate, fascinations or attractions (water, construction sites, etc.), and social responses (fear of strangers, aggression).

This registry provides police with emergency contact information, detailed physical descriptions, known routines and the special needs of individuals.

Information will assist officers in communicating with, attending a home of, or dealing with an emergency involving this person.

Examples of vulnerable persons may include persons with Alzheimer’s disease, autism spectrum disorder, an acquired brain injury, or a mental condition that causes a person to exhibit the above behaviours.

If this individual goes missing, the information on file about his or her physical appearance, known routines, de-escalation techniques and communication techniques will be available to every police officer searching for this person.

During the registration process police will require information about you and the person you’re registering. This information includes:

  • Name.
  • Date of birth.
  • Physical descriptors.
  • Contact information.
  • Special needs.
  • Methods of approach.
  • Objects of attraction.
  • Recent photograph of the person’s face.

In the case of an emergency, Peel police have immediate access to this registry.

The information you provide can quickly help responding officers assist in the location and identification of this individual.

Parents, guardians, administrators and substitute decision-makers are encouraged to submit a registration using our online registry.

“This can help provide vital information in a timely manner and reduces the likelihood that critical information is not overlooked,” reads Peel police’s website.

Anyone who doesn’t have access to the Internet is encouraged to visit a district stations for assistance in registering.

Only police personnel who require the information in performing their duties will have access to it, and in an emergency, police might share it with other emergency services like fire or ambulance.

Changes in address, school, or emergency contact can be updated at any time.

In the event of an emergency, you won’t need to have the occurrence number immediately at hand.

For more information or to register a vulnerable loved one, click here.

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