I Was Harassed or Assaulted by the Police

Most parts of rural BC are policed by the RCMP. You can make a complaint about the on-duty conduct of an RCMP police officer to the officer-in-charge of the local detachment, or to the Commission for Public Complaints (CPC) against the RCMP.

First steps

1. Make notes about what happened, where and when. Include the name of the officer if you know it.
2. Contact people who witnessed the incident. Ask them to write down what happened and give you a copy. They should include their name, address and phone number.
3. If you were injured, seek medical attention. Take pictures of your injuries.
4. Complete and send in a Complaint form to the RCMP station or the Commission for Public Complaints against the RCMP. [You can obtain a Complaint form from any RCMP station, or from the Commission for Public Complaints against the RCMP. See #50-RCMP Public Complaints Commission, in Part 2 of this Guide for contact and website information, including an online Complaint form.]

What will happen next?

Your complaint will be investigated by another RCMP officer. In minor cases, the investigator will attempt to resolve the complaint informally. In more serious cases, the investigator will investigate further. Discipline may be imposed on the officer in question, and you will be provided with a report of what happened.

If you are not satisfied with the informal resolution or the investigator’s report, you can submit a Request for Complaint Review to the Chair of the Commission for Public Complaints against the RCMP. The Chair may deny your request, order a further investigation or, in very serious cases, order a public hearing.

Where to get help

See Part 2- Resources, starting on page 43, for a list of helpful resources. Your best bets are:

• RCMP Public Complaints Commission.
• Police Complaints Commissioner British Columbia.
• BC Civil Liberties Association, Community Legal Assistance Society.
• Access Justice, Lawyer Referral Service, Salvation Army Pro Bono Lawyer Consultation Program, Private Bar Lawyers.
• Law Students’ Legal Advice Program. (See “Chapter 20- Public Complaints Procedure”, for useful information on “Complaints Concerning Police Conduct”.)

In law, a legal obligation to do or not do something, whether under the common law or pursuant to legislation. See "act" and "common law."

Under the Family Law Act, a term that describes the time a person who is not a guardian of a child, including a parent who is not a guardian, has with that child. Under the Divorce Act, a term that describes the time a person who is not a married spouse has with a child. See "guardian" and "parental responsibilities."

A person who is younger than the legal age of majority, 19 in British Columbia. Not to be confused with "miner," which means something else altogether. See "age of majority."

A mandatory direction of the court that is binding and enforceable upon the parties to a court proceeding. An "interim order" is a temporary order made following the hearing of an interim application. A "final order" is a permanent order, made following the trial of the court proceeding or the parties' settlement, following which the only recourse open to a dissatisfied party is to appeal. Failing to abide by the terms of an order may constitute contempt of court. See "appeal," "consent order," "contempt of court," "decision" and "declaration."

In law, any proceeding before a judicial official to determine questions of law and questions of fact, including the hearing of an application and the hearing of a trial. See "decision."