In Saanich, the police monitored but did not intervene for more than a month as Canada’s most prolific voyeur violated bail conditions by wandering through businesses with a phone. Court records obtained by CBC News revealed that Yin Yeung Derek Chan was observed by police while he searched for victims in places like Fitness World and Value Village, where he had previously filmed hundreds of women and girls.
Chan, who recorded at least 652 women and girls in Greater Victoria, leading to what officials consider the largest voyeurism case in Canada, was eventually sentenced to four and a half years in prison for voyeurism and child pornography offenses. The investigation by the Saanich Police Department has come under scrutiny, with questions raised about why the police did not act sooner to stop the voyeur.
While Saanich police did not provide answers to CBC News for this story, they stated in a release that their decisions were guided by a trauma-informed approach to avoid actions that could further victimize individuals. Businesses visited by Chan while he breached bail conditions claimed they were not contacted by the police.
Police discovered thousands of images and over 100 hours of videos of women and children in Chan’s residence before his arrest in April 2024. Despite being prohibited from using a cellphone outside his home while on bail, Chan was observed by police using multiple cellphones in public on several occasions before being re-arrested on Jan. 30, 2025.
During these incidents, Chan was seen using a cellphone at various locations such as the Uptown shopping center, Fitness World gym, and Value Village. The majority of Chan’s victims, over 400 women and children, were recorded at Value Village, as stated by Crown lawyer Paul Cheeseman during court proceedings.
Ashley Dryburgh, the executive director of the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre, expressed disappointment in the police’s handling of the situation, believing they did not do enough to protect the community from Chan’s actions. She questioned whether individuals were unknowingly used as bait to gather evidence against the perpetrator.
Former chief civilian director of B.C.’s Independent Investigations Office, Ron MacDonald, emphasized that police have a duty to prevent harm, especially in cases like voyeurism, which can cause severe psychological distress. MacDonald suggested that Chan should have been arrested immediately upon violating his bail conditions by using a cellphone outside his home.
As the case unfolded and Chan’s crimes became public knowledge following his sentencing, concerns arose within the community. Many women and girls in southern Vancouver Island wondered if they or someone they knew were victims of Chan’s voyeurism.
Approximately 40 victims were identified by the police before the sentencing, but they have not disclosed the total number of additional victims confirmed since then. Police utilized AI technology to help identify victims and locate more videos created by Chan, some of which had significant online viewership.
In a statement, Deputy Chief Const. Damian Kowalewich acknowledged that the impact of Chan’s crimes would continue long after the sentencing, offering ongoing support for victims seeking assistance.
