In a notice sent out June 16, the North Vancouver RCMP Youth Intervention Unit warned parents and other members of the public that there appears to be a small group of individuals within the community who are pressuring women as young as 16 to prostitute themselves online.
Shannon Kitchen, a member of the YIU. The problem came to the unit's attention in November, when staff at a North Vancouver school passed on hearsay that former students -- young men now in their early 20s -- were pimping current class members. The YIU looked into it, consulting youth probation officers, officials with the Ministry of Children and Family Development and workers with other frontline organizations. It quickly became apparent that the rumours were true, said Kitchen.
What's more, it appeared the problem was growing. In a typical situation, the toxic business relationship will evolve from an ostensibly personal one, said Kitchen. You owe me money and you now have to go work it off. A search on Craigslist June 26 turned up some disturbing postings. Some of these are listed as "uncovered," meaning without a condom, a particularly worrisome detail. Most of the individuals who have fallen into the trap are from North Vancouver's three alternative schools, and many come from unstable homes, said Kitchen.
But not everyone fits this profile. Some of the victims come from other schools in the district and from apparently stable households. The YIU has been meeting regularly with other police departments and a variety of agencies in an effort to co-ordinate their approach.
They went public this week in an effort to bring parents on board. Kitchen wants the public to be on the lookout for warning signs: truancy; increased drug use; the sudden appearance of expensive goods without an obvious source of income. Anyone who has become entangled in the problem or who has concerns about another should contact a school councillor or get in touch with another community service. Onyx can be reached at and Hollyburn Family Services at Your account has been reactivated.
