Making a Police Complaint in British Columbia
Reviewed by the Commoner Law Editorial Team. Sourced from Canadian federal statutes and official sources. Provincial information reflects each province's own legislation and court rulings. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
Filing a complaint against a police officer in Canada is your right, and the routes depend on which force the officer belongs to.
For the RCMP, complaints go to the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC). For provincial and municipal forces, each province runs its own oversight body:
- Ontario: Law Enforcement Complaints Agency (LECA)
- British Columbia: Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC)
- Alberta: Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board (LERB) / Police Review Commission
- Quebec: Commissaire a la deontologie policiere
Complaints split into two: conduct complaints (the officer's behaviour) and service or policy complaints (the force's procedures or training).
Where someone has been killed or seriously injured during a police encounter, you don't need to file — investigation is automatic, by a specialised civilian unit (Ontario's SIU, Alberta's ASIRT, Quebec's BEI).
When does it apply?
Anyone can file — citizenship status is irrelevant.
- Covers misconduct, excessive force, unlawful search, and discrimination.
- Time limits vary — usually somewhere between 6 months and 1 year — so move fast.
What to Do If a Police Officer in Canada Mistreats You or Violates Your Rights
The strength of any police complaint is the level of detail. Capture it before memory blurs.
- Write down everything as soon as you can — dates, times, badge numbers, exact words.
- Photograph injuries and damage immediately.
- File with the right body: RCMP at crcc-ccetp.gc.ca; Ontario at leca.ca; BC at opcc.bc.ca.
- File in writing and keep a copy of everything you send.
- For anything serious, talk to a lawyer before filing — strategy matters.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't sit on it. Time limits are strict and seldom extended.
- Don't exaggerate. Investigators discount complaints that overreach. Stick to what you saw.
- Don't confront the officer. The formal process is the only one with teeth.
- Don't post the story on social media before filing. Defence counsel will use it.
How British Columbia differs from federal law
BC has separate complaint processes for municipal police and RCMP, plus an independent civilian body that investigates serious incidents.
- Complaints about BC municipal police officers (Vancouver, Victoria, etc.) go to the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC). The OPCC is an independent civilian oversight body that receives complaints, oversees investigations, and can order public hearings or discipline reviews.
- Complaints about RCMP officers in BC go to the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC), which is a federal body. Many BC communities are policed by RCMP under contract.
- The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO BC) investigates all incidents of death or serious harm that may have been caused by police action, whether by municipal police or RCMP. The IIO is independent of all police agencies.
- You cannot be punished or charged for filing a good-faith complaint against a police officer.
Additional Steps in British Columbia
For municipal police complaints: file with the OPCC online at opcc.bc.ca, by phone at 1-877-999-8707, or in writing. You have 12 months from the incident. For RCMP complaints: file with the CRCC online at crcc-ccetp.gc.ca or by phone at 1-800-665-6878. If someone was seriously injured or killed by police, the IIO BC will investigate — call the IIO at 1-855-446-8477.
Relevant Law: Police Act, RSBC 1996, c. 367, Part 9 (OPCC and complaint process); Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act, RSC 1985, c. R-10 (CRCC); Independent Investigations Office of Police Act, SBC 2019, c. 11
Common Questions
When does making a police complaint apply?
Anyone can file — citizenship status is irrelevant.Covers misconduct, excessive force, unlawful search, and discrimination.Time limits vary — usually somewhere between 6 months and 1 year — so move fast.
What should I do if a police officer in Canada abused their authority or treated me unfairly?
The strength of any police complaint is the level of detail. Capture it before memory blurs.Write down everything as soon as you can — dates, times, badge numbers, exact words.Photograph injuries and damage immediately.File with the right body: RCMP at crcc-ccetp.gc.ca; Ontario at leca.ca; BC at opcc.bc.ca.File in writing and keep a copy of everything you send.For anything serious, talk to a lawyer before filing — strategy matters.
What mistakes should I avoid with making a police complaint?
Don't sit on it. Time limits are strict and seldom extended.Don't exaggerate. Investigators discount complaints that overreach. Stick to what you saw.Don't confront the officer. The formal process is the only one with teeth.Don't post the story on social media before filing. Defence counsel will use it.
Making a Police Complaint in other states
Same topic, different jurisdiction. Pick the one that applies to you.