Addendum 2 - Police Pursuits

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Introduction

Addendum 2 - Police Pursuits brings together in one document current regulations, guidelines, and directives.  The Addendum is created as a Policy Directive under the umbrella of the BC Provincial Policing Standards (BCPPS) framework to ensure police services have ready access to a single reference document that consolidates the guiding principles, rules and expectations governing police pursuits. 

Incorporated into Addendum 2 are:

• The Motor Vehicle Act Emergency Vehicle Driving Regulation [B.C. Reg. 48/2025].  This regulation provides the legal requirements for engaging in a pursuit, non-pursuit emergency responses by police and others, rules for entering intersections and training requirements. Section 7 of the Regulation requires that peace officers not engage in a pursuit unless they “follow guidelines published by Police Services Division.”;
• The Guidelines for Peace Officers Operating Emergency Vehicles (as per Section 7 of the Emergency Vehicle Driving Regulation). These were published by Policing and Security Branch in 2000. The guidelines provide direction respecting general pursuit, continuous risk assessment; interjurisdictional pursuits; and terminating a pursuit;
• The provincially endorsed minimum threshold for initiating pursuits developed by Policing and Security Branch in consultation with police, and approved by the Solicitor General in 2009; and
• A standard governing policies and procedures.

Policing and Security Branch uses these sources of direction as evaluation criteria when inspecting and reporting on the quality and standard of policing and law enforcement services delivery under section 40 of the Police Act.

Definitions

Peace Officer: A constable or a person who has a constable's powers.

Primary Unit: The Peace Officer operating an emergency vehicle during a pursuit who is responsible for control and direction of the pursuit subject to the direction of a supervisor.

Pursuit: The driving of an emergency vehicle by a Peace Officer while exercising the privileges granted by section 122 (1) of the Motor Vehicle Act for the purpose of apprehending another person who refuses to stop as directed by a Peace Officer and attempts to evade apprehension.

Secondary Unit: The Peace Officer operating an emergency vehicle during a pursuit under the control or direction of the Primary Unit or a supervisor.

Policy Directive

Emergency Vehicle Driving Regulation

(1) The Chief Constable, Chief Officer, or Commissioner must ensure that a policy is in place that requires officers to comply with the applicable provisions of the Emergency Vehicle Driving Regulation (see Appendix "A").

Guidelines for Peace Officers Operating Emergency Vehicles

(2) The Chief Constable, Chief Officer, or Commissioner must ensure that a policy is in place that requires officers to conduct Pursuits in accordance with the operational Guidelines for Peace Officers Operating Emergency Vehicles as published by Police Services Division on February 14, 2000 (see Appendix B).

Threshold

(3) Notwithstanding Section 3(3)(a) of the Emergency Vehicle Driving Regulation, Pursuits may only be initiated for offences where the driver or passenger has committed, or is about to commit, [Severed].

Policy and procedures

(4) The Chief Constable, Chief Officer, or Commissioner must ensure that policies and procedures govern the Pursuit of motor vehicles. The policies and procedures are to include:

(a) Evaluating the circumstances;
(b) Initiating officer's responsibilities;
(c) Secondary Unit's responsibilities;
(d) The number of police units involved;
(e) Dispatcher's responsibilities;
(f) Supervisor's responsibilities;
(g) Forcible stopping;
(h) When to terminate Pursuit;
(i) Inter and intra-jurisdictional Pursuits;
(j) The use of police aircraft;
(k) Officers' responsibilities when accompanied by passengers who are not officers of the department; and
(l) Reporting procedures.

Appendices

• Appendix “A” for BCPPS Addendum 2 – Police Pursuits (Emergency Vehicle Driving Regulation)
• Appendix “B” for BCPPS Addendum 2 – Police Pursuits