Jurisdiction

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) oversees processing of complaints from these 15 BC police departments and agencies.

• Abbotsford Police Department
• Central Saanich Police Service
• CFSEU-BC (Organized Crime Agency of BC)
• Delta Police Department
• Metro Vancouver Transit Police
• Nelson Police Department
• New Westminster Police Department
• Oak Bay Police Department
• Port Moody Police Department
• Saanich Police Department
• Stl’atl’imx Tribal Police Service
• Surrey Police Service
• Vancouver Police Department
• Victoria Police Department
• West Vancouver Police Department

Our jurisdiction also covers special municipal constables, appointed under the Police Act. This includes:

• Jail guards.
• Traffic authority and community safety members.
• Auxiliary/reserve constables employed as special municipal constables.

We do not have jurisdiction over RCMP complaints, they are legislated under the federal Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act. 

Other Agencies

There are two other agencies who either investigate police incidents or oversee police complaints, including for the RCMP.

1. Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC)

The CRCC is an independent agency created to ensure that public complaints made about the conduct of RCMP members are examined fairly and impartially. 

The CRCC:

• Receives complaints and conducts reviews when complainants are not satisfied.
• Initiates complaints and investigations when it’s in the public’s interest to do so, holds hearings, reports findings, and makes recommendations for changes to national policing policies and practices.

If you wish to file a complaint against an RCMP officer, please click the link above or write to:

Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP
National Intake Office
PO Box 1722, Station B
Ottawa, ON K1P 0B3

2. Independent Investigations Office (IIO)

The IIO is a BC civilian organization investigating officer-involved incidents that result in serious harm or death. They determine if an officer may have committed a criminal offence. The IIO has jurisdiction over:

• BC municipal police agencies.
• the RCMP.
• officers appointed as Special Constables when they are exercising their authority as Special Constables.