xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh) / Vancouver, BC – Today, the BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) publishes a new Pathways to Police Accountability Toolkit. This 112-page easy-to-access toolkit outlines options for people seeking justice after police harm in BC. It explains police complaint processes, human rights complaints, and civil lawsuits as accountability pathways. Readers are empowered to decide which pathway to pursue, how to begin the process, and what to expect. The toolkit can be accessed online with print copies available for request at no cost to community-serving groups.
The Pathways to Police Accountability Toolkit is a companion publication to BCCLA’s updated and expanded Arrest Handbook, which sets out rights when interacting with police. This toolkit, as the next installment, helps readers compare and understand which police accountability pathway is right for them, provides tips about how the pathways interact, and supports them to take action with tools like checklists. The toolkit explains legal terms, simplifies complex processes, and provides realistic information about how effective— or ineffective — each pathway might be.
Meghan McDermott, BCCLA Policy Director, says:
“Government agencies mandated to hold police accountable are failing to provide the necessary information and support to help people navigate the system and meaningfully access justice. By launching this toolkit, we are taking action to build public capacity and confidence to seek remedies for police harm or misconduct. We hope that an increase in the volume of complaints, a greater awareness of systemic misconduct, and building pressure for police reform will ultimately enable stronger independent police oversight.”
Jerome Igbokwe, BCCLA Staff Counsel, says:
“Too often, people who experience harmful or troubling interactions with police are unaware of where to turn for solutions or justice, and that options beyond the police complaints system may be available. This toolkit seeks to bridge that information gap by equipping advocates and individuals with practical pathways toward accountability, while being transparent about the limitations of each pathway.”
BCCLA is grateful for the generous financial support of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (with funding provided by the Government of Canada) and the Law Foundation of BC. We offer our deep appreciation to the community groups and subject matter experts in human rights, mental health, public interest, civil litigation, and Aboriginal and Indigenous law who shared their expertise with us and helped bring this resource to life.
Digital copies and information on how to request hard copies of the Pathways to Police Accountability Toolkit found at bccla.org/resource/pathways-to-police-accountability-toolkit/. The toolkit provides legal information only and is not intended to replace legal advice from a qualified lawyer.
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