Richmond RCMP has opened a newly renovated child interview space designed to help children and their families feel safe, calm, and welcome when they come to the detachment.

The space was the vision of Constable Katherine DeShane, who completed specialized child interview training in 2019. After conducting numerous interviews with children, Cst. DeShane recognized that the existing interview room – cluttered, dimly painted, and furnished with oversized furniture – was not designed with children or victims in mind.

To find a better approach, Cst. DeShane visited other police detachments, child advocacy centres, and the local Ministry of Children and Family Development office to learn how other communities support children. She brought the idea forward in 2021, and after several years of planning and renovation, the new space was completed in 2025.

The renovated area is divided into two rooms: a dedicated waiting room and an interview room. The design means children and victims of crime no longer need to wait in the detachment’s busy public lobby. Both rooms feature brighter colours, smaller furniture, and sensory objects intended to feel welcoming and less institutional.

“Children come here having sometimes witnessed or experienced very difficult things,” said Constable Katherine DeShane, Richmond RCMP. “This space was created so they can feel safe and supported, away from the busy lobby, in a room that feels calm rather than intimidating.”