There are multiple police forces in British Columbia, including municipal police and the RCMP. The provincial Police Act and the federal Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act set out processes for members of the public to file complaints against police officers with one of the civilian oversight bodies.

If your client has an interaction with a police officer where the officer’s actions may constitute misconduct, you or your client can file a complaint with one of the civilian oversight bodies. 

In BC, “misconduct” may include:

• Using abusive or insulting language against a person
• Using unnecessary force against a person
• Searching, detaining, or arresting a person without good and sufficient cause

Please read our Police Complaints Factsheet if:

• You or your client want to learn more about police complaint processes
• You or your client want to file a complaint for misconduct against a municipal police officer in British Columbia
• You or your client want to file a complaint for misconduct against an RCMP officer in British Columbia

If you have any questions, you can call our Legal Advocate Support Line at 604-630-9758.

In British Columbia, the Conservation Officer Service is a public body that focuses on natural resource law enforcement and human-wildlife conflicts prevention. Conservation officers are peace officers whose powers are governed under the Environmental Management Act.

If your client has an interaction with a Conservation Officer where the officer’s actions may constitute misconduct, you or your client can file a complaint with the Conservation Officer Service.

Please read our Powers of Conservation Officers Factsheet if:

• You or your client want to learn more about the powers of conservation officers
• You or your client want to file a complaint against a Conservation Officer for misconduct

If you have any questions, you can call our Legal Advocate Support Line at 604-630-9758.

Everyone has the right to a reasonable expectation of privacy. Privacy law regulates the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information (i.e. identifiable information about an individual), including video or audio recordings and biometrics.

In British Columbia, privacy laws for private sector organizations (businesses, non-profits, landlords, etc.,) and public sector organizations (government ministries, municipal police forces, etc.) are governed under the following legislation:

• Personal Information Protection Act (private sector)
• Freedom of Information and the Protection of Privacy Act (public sector)

Privacy laws for federally-regulated private sector organizations (airlines, banks, telecommunications companies, etc.) and public sector organizations (government ministries, RCMP, etc.) are governed under the following legislation:

• Personal Information and Electronic Documents Act (private sector)
• Privacy Act (public sector)

Complaints for breaches to privacy laws can be filed with one of the following independent oversight bodies:

• Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia (provincial)
• Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (federal)

Please read our Privacy Factsheets if:

• You or your client want to learn more about privacy law in British Columbia
• You or your client want to file a complaint against a private or public sector organization for breaching your privacy rights

If you have any questions, you can call our Legal Advocate Support Line at 604-630-9758.

Everyone has the right to access records held by government, subject to some limitations. Access to information law regulates access to records held by government ministries and their service providers, including police forces.

In British Columbia, access to information laws are governed under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“FOIPPA”). FOIPPA guarantees members of the general public the right to access records held by BC government ministries and their service providers, with limitations, including: 

• Personal records: information of a personal nature about an identifiable individual, such as records held by a municipal police force
• General records: information of a general nature that can be released in whole or in part, such as briefing notes, contracts, etc.

Access to information laws for federal institutions, such as government ministries and the RCMP, are governed under the following legislation:

•  Privacy Act(for personal records)
• Access to Information Act (for general records)

Complaints for breaches to access to information laws can be filed with one of the following independent oversight bodies:

• Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia (provincial)
• Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (federal)

Please read our Access to Information Factsheet if:

• You or your client want to learn more about access to information law
• You or your client want to access a personal or general record from a government ministry or their service providers
• You want to correct an error or omission in a record held by a government ministry or their service providers
• You or your client want to file a complaint against a private or public sector organization for a failure to release records

If you have any questions, you can call our Legal Advocate Support Line at 604-630-9758.

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression, subject to some limitations, under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Examples of circumstances in which your right to freedom of expression may be infringed include:

• Your client is prohibited from protesting or demonstrating in a public place
• Your client is prohibited from leaf-letting on government-owned and operated property, such as airports, courthouses, or public transit.
• Your client is prohibited from accessing the social media accounts of government officials or government bodies, or your client has access and the account has deleted any posts made by your client.

Please read our Freedom of Expression Factsheet if:

• You or your client want to learn more about your right to freedom of expression
• You or your client want to respond to a potential infringement of your right to freedom of expression

If you have any questions, you can call our Legal Advocate Support Line at 604-630-9758.