The Vancouver Police Board will discuss a new draft of guidelines designed to improve relations between officers and sex trade workers on Wednesday.
While the report, completed by VPD deputy chief Warren Lemcke, aims to improve communications between police members and women on the street, the family of one of Robert Pickton's victims is concerned about one of the report's recommendations.
The recommendation states: "In all situations, VPD officers will treat those in the sex trade industry with respect and dignity."
Chilliwack resident Ernie Crey, who has advocated for the rights of sex trade workers ever since his sister Dawn disappeared from the Downtown Eastside, said he is concerned that this wording indicates the VPD are not acknowledging the marginalization of sex trade workers by police in the past.
"How have they been treating them to date?" he said. "Does the VPD have a code of conduct for its officers, and are there some people who are exempt in that code of conduct from being treated with dignity and respect, like sex trade workers, like Aboriginal people, like women, like the mentally ill?"
Crey said his sister Dawn, whose DNA was later found on Pickton's farm, often complained that she was treated roughly by police. He said he hopes that the VPD recommendations concerning sex trade workers will be enforced on the street.
With files from CTV British Columbia's Julia Foy
