Complaints about Police and Other Authorities

Here are the first steps and some useful resources for people in BC facing problems with authorities, such as:

• I was harassed or assaulted by the police.
• A provincial government worker was abusive to me.
• A federal goverment worker was abusive to me.
• I was abused in a Residential School.

Many urban police forces (including the city of Nelson) and some tribal police forces (including the Kitasoo Xaixais Police Service and Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police) are under provincial authority. Complaints about these forces need to go to the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner (BC); see the Resource List for contact and website information, including an online complaint form.

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."