Video Surveillance Recordings in Police Buildings

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Definitions

Detained Person: Any person held or confined in the custody of police.

Fingerprint Rooms: Any room in a police building used to fingerprint a person unless the room is used exclusively for volunteer fingerprinting.

Interview Rooms: Locations or rooms in police buildings, inside and external to the cell block, used to conduct all investigative and patrol interviews including “hard” and “soft” Interview Rooms; polygraph rooms used for Detained Persons; and statements and bail hearing rooms.

Sally Port: The secure parking bay immediately adjacent to a police building where Detained Persons are loaded or unloaded into and out of vehicles.

Standards

Video surveillance equipment and specifications

Each municipality or other entity, as defined by the Police Act, must ensure that:

(1) A digital video surveillance and recording system is installed in any and all of the following locations:

(a) Sally Port;
(b) Outside locations that may be used for unloading or for release of Detained Persons;
(c) Prisoner booking area;
(d) Hallways and elevators inside cell block;
(e) Cells and holding/observation rooms;
(f) Interview Rooms; and
(g) Breathalyzer test apparatus rooms or areas.

(2) The digital video surveillance and recording system in each of the locations listed under Standard (1) above operates at a sufficient rate of speed so that recorded movement of all persons appears fluid, and enables a time and date stamp on original recordings, and any copies or exacts that are made. 

Operation of digital video surveillance and recording system

The Chief Constable, Chief Officer, or Commissioner must:

(3) Require that the digital video surveillance and recording system is continuously operated when a Detained Person is in any of the locations listed in Standard (1) above.

(4) Ensure that to the maximum extent possible all interactions with or between Detained Persons, while inside police buildings, is restricted to areas under surveillance.

(5) Ensure compliance with Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner guidelines regarding privacy and the monitoring of persons, as well as access, security and retention of recordings.

(6) Require the appropriate safeguards are in place to protect solicitor-client privilege during legal consultation.

(7) Require verbal and posted warnings advising those entering an Interview Room that they will be recorded.

(8) Ensure that, if a location where a digital video room surveillance and recording system is operational is used to interview a victim or witness, and the victim or witness requests that the interview not be recorded, then the camera is blocked or turned off and the victim or witness signs a declaration of refusal or waiver documenting their request. 

Maintenance of digital video surveillance and recording system

The Chief Constable, Chief Officer, or Commissioner must:

(9) Ensure that the digital video surveillance and recording system is maintained in good working order.

Policies and procedures

The Chief Constable, Chief Officer, or Commissioner must ensure that:

(10) Policies and procedures are consistent with these BC Provincial Policing Standards.