Provincial policing standards

The Police Act allows government to create binding standards on police and to evaluate the compliance of police with those standards.

For other information relating to policing standards and evaluations, see Addenda – Supplemental Policy Directives.

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1. Use of force

1.1 Firearms

• 1.1.1 Firearms and Ammunition (revised effective: February 18, 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: February 18, 2025)
• 1.2.2 Intermediate Weapons (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 1.2.3 Restraints (revised effective: February 18, 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: March 20, 2024)
• 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 (effective: March 20, 2024)

1.4 Police Service Dogs

• Guiding Principles – Police Service Dogs (PDF, 287.4KB)
• 1.4.1 General Requirements (PDF, 376.4KB) (effective: September 1, 2015)
• 1.4.2 Threshold and Circumstances of Police Dog Use (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 1.4.3 Reporting, Data and Review (PDF, 380.4KB) (effective: September 1, 2015)
• 1.4.4 Performance Testing and Maintenance (PDF, 397.2KB) (effective: September 1, 2015)

1.5 Use of Force Techniques

• 1.5.1 Neck Restraints (revised effective: February 18, 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: February 18, 2025)

1.8 Intentionally left blank

1.9 Use-of-Force Model

• 1.9.1 Use-of-Force Models (revised effective: February 18, 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: February 18, 2025)

2.2 Exemptions

• 2.2.1 P Exemption Process (revised effective: February 18, 2025)

2.3 Appeals

• 2.3.1 P Process for Appealing Decision of the Director of the Police Academy (revised effective: February 18, 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: February 18, 2025)
• 3.2.2 Crisis Intervention and De-escalation Training (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 3.2.3 Use-of-Force Instructor Training (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 3.2.4 Emergency Vehicle Operations (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 3.2.5 Training to Promote Equitable and Unbiased Policing (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 3.2.6 Training to Enhance Service Delivery to Vulnerable Communities (revised effective: see standard)
• 3.2.7 Major Case Management Training for Command Triangle roles (PDF, 180.9KB) (effective: January 12, 2023)

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4. Equipment and Facilities

4.1 Video Surveillance Recording in Police Buildings

• 4.1.1 Video Surveillance Recording in Police Buildings (PDF, 125KB) (revised effective: February 1, 2015)

4.2 Equipment

• Guiding Principles – Equipment (PDF, 83KB)
• 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 (PDF, 134KB) (effective: September 1, 2016)
• 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 (PDF, 133.6KB) (revised effective: January 1, 2017)
• 5.1.5 Family Members and Reportees (PDF, 125KB) (revised effective: January 1, 2017)
• 5.1.6 Concluding a Missing Person Investigation (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 5.1.7 Prevention, Intervention, and Outreach (revised effective: February 18, 2025)

5.2 Major Case Management

• Guiding Principles – Major Case Management (PDF, 135.6KB)
• 5.2.1 Threshold and Reporting (revised effective: February 18, 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: February 18, 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: February 18, 2025)

5.3. Inter-Agency Cooperation and Coordination

• Guiding Principles – Inter-Agency Cooperation and Coordination (PDF, 98KB)
• 5.3.1 Participation in Programs and Systems (PDF, 125.6KB) (effective: January 1, 2019)

5.4 Sexual Assault Investigations

• Guiding principles
• 5.4.1 Policy direction (effective: July 5, 2024)
• 5.4.2 Intake and investigations of Sexual Assaults (effective: see standard)
• 5.4.3 Coordination with other sectors (effective: July 5, 2024)
• 5.4.4 Victim interviews (effective: July 5, 2024)
• 5.4.5 Case reviews (effective: July 5, 2024)

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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: February 18, 2025)
• 6.1.2 Community Engagement (revised effective: February 18, 2025)
• 6.1.3 Promoting Diversity within the Police Force (PDF, 145KB) (effective: July 30, 2023)

6.2 Police Stops

• Foreword – Police Stops (PDF, 138KB)
• 6.2.1 Police Stops (revised effective: February 18, 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 (PDF, 505.5KB) (July 14, 2014)