The RCMP has officially launched the High Risk Child Sex Offender Database, a new national, publicly accessible tool designed to help protect children and vulnerable individuals across Canada.
The database centralizes information on individuals who have been convicted of sexual offences against children and who are assessed as posing a high risk of committing further sexual crimes. According to the RCMP, all information included has previously been made public by a police service or public authority.
Provincial, territorial and municipal authorities are responsible for identifying offenders and recommending them for inclusion. The RCMP relies on these jurisdictions, which already have established practices for assessing risk, to ensure only high-risk individuals are added and that information remains accurate.
Administered by the RCMP, the database is intended to support law enforcement efforts to investigate and prevent sexual offences against children. It also allows members of the public to access verified information to help them make informed decisions about safety in their communities.
The database was created under the High Risk Child Sex Offender Database Act, which came into force on December 31, 2024. The RCMP notes the database is not connected to the National Sex Offender Registry, which is a separate system used only by police and governed by different legislation.
The RCMP says members of the public who observe behaviour that violates an offender’s conditions should contact their local police service.
