Old phones are wanted by Nanaimo RCMP so they can be reset and given to victims of intimate partner violence. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

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Nanaimo Mounties wanting old smartphones to help intimate partner violence victims

Dec 27, 2024 | 5:21 AM

NANAIMO — If Santa placed a brand new phone under the Christmas tree this year, local Mounties have an idea on what to do with the old one.

The detachment’s Vulnerable Person’s Unit is putting out the call for any unwanted, functional smartphones to be dropped off at the Nanaimo RCMP so they can be given to people fleeing dangerous situations who might otherwise be completely isolated.

Cst. Sherri Wade told NanaimoNewsNOW the phones need to be able to hold a charge and be useable.

“We use these phones along with Victim Services to provide to anyone who’s phone has been broken or stolen because of intimate partner violence. It is not uncommon that an offender will break the victim’s phone because it prevents them from calling for help, or they take the phone.”

Having the ability to freely call family, friends, connect with agencies or call 911 for help is essential, especially for those fleeing violence.

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Wade said they’ll give out a couple of phones per month.

“We can hook it up so that it has Wi-Fi accessibility so they can do Facetime with a counsellor, or have a meeting virtually with community based victim services or police services, they can check in with us so we can make sure they’re ok.”

Wade added the phones should be factory reset by the donor, but officers at the detachment will do an extra clean before they’re handed over to anyone else.

“We have technicians in the building who can wipe phones. Our old work phones get wiped and get put into the system, and any phones that get dropped off, they get wiped by our technicians so we can ensure nobody’s information is getting passed on.”

Donated phones can be dropped off at the Nanaimo RCMP’s detachment at 303 Prideaux St. anytime, in an envelope marked “VPU”.

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