Provincial policing standards

The Police Act allows the Director of Policing and Law Enforcement Services to create provincial standards for police services or police boards, and to evaluate compliance. The standards set the minimum requirements for topics listed in the Police Act and are binding when approved by the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

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1. Use of force

1.1 Firearms

• 1.1.1 Firearms and Ammunition (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 1.1.2 Firearms Training and Qualification (revised effective: February 18, 2025)

1.2 Intermediate Weapons and Restraints

• 1.2.1 P Intermediate Weapon and Restraint Approval Process (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 1.2.2 Intermediate Weapons (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 1.2.3 Restraints (revised effective: June 24, 2025)

1.3 Conducted Energy Weapons (CEWs)

• 1.3.1 Threshold and Circumstances of Use (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 1.3.2 Approved CEW Models (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 1.3.3 Internal CEW Controls and Monitoring (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 1.3.4 Medical Assistance to CEW Discharges (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 1.3.5 CEW Testing (deleted and replaced by 1.3.6 CEW Testing and Maintenance)
• 1.3.6 CEW Testing and Maintenance (revised effective: June 24, 2025)

1.4 Police Service Dogs

• Guiding Principles – Police Service Dogs
• 1.4.1 General Requirements (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 1.4.2 Threshold and Circumstances of Police Dog Use (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 1.4.3 Reporting, Data and Review (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 1.4.4 Performance Testing and Maintenance (revised effective: June 24, 2025)

1.5 Use of Force Techniques

• 1.5.1 Neck Restraints (revised effective: June 24, 2025)

1.6 Intentionally left blank

1.7 Reporting and Investigation

• 1.7.1 Reporting and Investigation Following the Use of Weapons (deleted and replaced by 1.7.2 Reporting and Investigation Following the Use of Force
• 1.7.2 Reporting and Investigation Following the Use of Force (revised effective: June 24, 2025)

1.8 Intentionally left blank

1.9 Use-of-Force Model

• 1.9.1 Use-of-Force Models (revised effective: June 24, 2025)

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2. Training for police officers

2.1 Recruit and Advanced Training

• 2.1.1 Recruit and Advanced Training (revised effective: June 24, 2025)

2.2 Exemptions

• 2.2.1 P Exemption Process (revised effective: June 24, 2025)

2.3 Appeals

• 2.3.1 P Process for Appealing Decision of the Director of the Police Academy (revised effective: June 24, 2025)

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3. Training Courses and Development

3.1 Intentionally Left Blank

3.2 Provincially Approved Training Courses

• 3.2.1 CEW Operator Training (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 3.2.2 Crisis Intervention and De-escalation Training (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 3.2.3 Use-of-Force Instructor Training (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 3.2.4 Emergency Vehicle Operations (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 3.2.5 Training to Promote Equitable and Unbiased Policing (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 3.2.6 Training to Enhance Service Delivery to Vulnerable Communities (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 3.2.7 Major Case Management Training for Command Triangle Roles (revised effective: June 24, 2025)

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4. Equipment and Facilities

4.1 Video Surveillance Recording in Police Buildings

• 4.1.1 Video Surveillance Recordings in Police Buildings (revised effective: June 24, 2025)

4.2 Equipment

• Guiding Principles – Equipment
• 4.2.1 Body-Worn Cameras (revised effective: February 18, 2025)

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5. Specialized investigations

5.1 Missing Person Investigations

• Guiding Principles – Missing Person Investigations
• 5.1.1 Intake (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 5.1.2 Risk Assessment Process (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 5.1.3 Response and Investigation (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 5.1.4 File Review and Monitoring (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 5.1.5 Family Members and Reportees (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 5.1.6 Concluding a Missing Person Investigation (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 5.1.7 Prevention, Intervention, and Outreach (revised effective: June 24, 2025)

5.2 Major Case Management

• Guiding Principles – Major Case Management
• 5.2.1 Threshold and Reporting (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 5.2.2 Command Triangle and Investigative Team (revised effective: see standard)
• 5.2.3 Case Management System (revised effective: see standard)
• 5.2.4 Business Rules (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 5.2.5 Oversight and Accountability (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 5.2.6 External Relations (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 5.2.7 Disclosure and Report to Crown Counsel (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 5.2.8 Investigations (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 5.2.9 Multi-jurisdictional Major Case Investigations (revised effective: June 24, 2025)

5.3. Inter-Agency Cooperation and Coordination

• Guiding Principles – Inter-Agency Cooperation and Coordination
• 5.3.1 Participation in Programs and Systems (revised effective: June 24, 2025)

5.4 Sexual Assault Investigations

• Guiding principles
• 5.4.1 Policy direction (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 5.4.2 Intake and investigations of Sexual Assaults (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 5.4.3 Coordination with other sectors (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 5.4.4 Victim interviews (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 5.4.5 Case reviews (revised effective: June 24, 2025)

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6. Promotion of Unbiased Policing

6.1 Community Partnerships and Equitable Policing

• Guiding Principles
• 6.1.1 Promoting Unbiased Policing (revised effective: June 24, 2025)
• 6.1.2 Community Engagement (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 6.1.3 Promoting Diversity within the Police Service (revised effective: June 24, 2025)

6.2 Police Stops

• Foreword – Police Stops
• 6.2.1 Police Stops (revised effective: June 24, 2025)

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Addenda – Supplemental Policy Directives

Interim Continuation of Policing Standards Established by the Former British Columbia Police Commission (BCPC)

• 1 Interim Continuation of Policing Standards Established by the Former British Columbia Police Commission (BCPC) (PDF, 1MB) (December 1, 2017)

Police Pursuits

• 2 Police Pursuits (revised effective: June 24, 2025)