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Provincial Policing Standards Provincial Policing Standards PROVINCIAL POLICING STANDARDS PROVINCIAL POLICING STANDARDS Page 1 of 3 Date: August 3, 2021 Table of Contents NOTE: the effective date of each standard is noted on the individual standard. PROVINCIAL POLICING STANDARDS 1 Use of Force 1.1 Firearms 1.1.1 Firearms and Ammunition 1.1.2 Firearms Training and Qualification 1.2 Intermediate Weapons and Restraints 1.2.1 P Intermediate Weapon and Restraint Approval Process 1.2.2 Intermediate Weapons 1.2.3 Restraints 1.3 CEWs 1.3.1 Threshold and Circumstances of Use 1.3.2 Approved CEW Models 1.3.3 Internal CEW Controls and Monitoring 1.3.4 Medical Assistance to CEW Discharges 1.3.5 CEW Testing 1.4 Police Service Dogs Guiding Principles 1.4.1 General Requirements 1.4.2 Threshold and Circumstances of Police Dog Use 1.4.3 Reporting, Data and Review 1.4.4 Performance Testing and Maintenance 1.5 Use-of-Force Techniques 1.5.1 Neck Restraints 1.6 Intentionally left blank 1.7 Reporting and Investigation 1.7.1 Deleted and replaced by 1.7.2 1.7.2 Reporting and Investigation Following the Use of Force 1.8 Intentionally left blank 1.9 Use-of-Force Model 1.9.1 Use-of-Force Model and Techniques BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL POLICING STANDARDS Page 2 of 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 Training for Police Officers 2.1 Recruit and Advanced Training 2.1.1 Recruit and Advanced Training 2.2 Exemptions 2.2.1 P Exemption Process 2.3 Appeals 2.3.1 P Process for Appealing Decisions of the Director of the Police Academy 3 Training Courses and Development 3.1 Intentionally left blank 3.2 Provincially Approved Training Courses 3.2.1 CEW Operator Training 3.2.2 CID Training 3.2.3 Use-of-Force Instructor Training 3.2.4 Emergency Vehicle Operations 3.2.5 Training to Promote Equitable and Unbiased Policing 3.2.6 Training to Enhance Service Delivery to Vulnerable Communities 4 Equipment and Facilities 4.1 Video Surveillance Recordings in Police Buildings 4.1.1 Video Surveillance Recordings in Police Buildings 4.2 Equipment 4.2.1 Body Worn Cameras 5 Specialized Investigations 5.1 Missing Person Investigations Guiding Principles 5.1.1 Intake 5.1.2 Risk Assessment Process 5.1.3 Reponse and Investigation 5.1.4 File Review and Monitoring 5.1.5 Family Members and Reportees 5.1.6 Concluding a Missing Person Investigation 5.1.7 Prevention and Intervention 5.2 Major Case Management Guiding Principles 5.2.1 Threshold and Reporting BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL POLICING STANDARDS Page 3 of 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 5.2.2 Command Triangle and Investigative Team 5.2.3 Case Management System 5.2.4 Business Rules 5.2.5 Oversight and Accountability 5.2.6 External Relations 5.2.7 Disclosure and Report to Crown Counsel 5.2.8 Investigation 5.2.9 Multi-jurisdictional Major Case Investigations 5.3 Inter-Agency Cooperation and Coordination Guiding Principles 5.3.1 Participation in Programs and Systems 6 Promotion of Unbiased Policing 6.1 Community Partnerships and Equitable Policing Guiding Principles 6.1.1 Promoting Unbiased Policing 6.1.2 Community Engagement 6.1.3 Promoting Diversity within the Police Force 6.2 Police Stops Foreword 6.2.1 Police Stops ADDENDA – Supplemental Policies & Documents Addendum 1 – Interim Continuation of Standards Developed by the Former British Columbia Police Commission (BCPC) Addendum 2 – Police Pursuits PROVINCIAL POLICING STANDARDS Section 1.0 - Use of Force PROVINCIAL POLICING STANDARDS Section 1.0 – Use-of-Force Page 1 of 2 Sub Section 1.1 – Firearms Effective: January 30, 2012 Subject 1.1.1 – Firearms and Ammunition Revised effective: February 27, 2020 Definitions "Ammunition" – a projectile intended for use with a firearm. "Director" - the director of police services referred to in section 39 (1) of the Police Act. “Firearm” – a barrelled weapon from which any shot, bullet or other projectile can be discharged and that is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death to a person, and includes any frame or receiver of such a barrelled weapon, and anything that can be adapted for use as a firearm (as per section 2 of the Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46). A conducted energy weapon is not considered a firearm for the purposes of BCPPS 1.1.1 and 1.1.2. “Officer” – a constable appointed under the Police Act or an enforcement officer appointed under s. 18.1 of the Police Act. “Pistol” – a handgun; a firearm designed to be held in one hand. Standards Approved firearms and ammunition The chief constable, chief officer, or commissioner: (1) Must ensure only firearms approved by the director are carried and used by officers. Approved firearms are semi-automatic pistols with the following specifications: (a) Double/single or double action-only trigger mechanism; (b) Single action trigger force of not less than 1.36 kg; (c) Hammer/firing pin block safety mechanism; and (d) Barrel of not less than 76 mm and not more than 127 mm in length. (2) Must ensure the duty ammunition issued and used in a firearm described under Standard (1) are 0.40 calibre Smith and Wesson or 9 mm factory loaded cartridges with the following specifications: (a) Hollow point bullet design; (b) Bullet weight no less than 8.035 grams (124 grain); and (c) Muzzle velocity between 290 m/second to 396 m/second, when fired in a firearm referred to in Standard (1). BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL POLICING STANDARDS Page 2 of 2 SUBJECT: 1.1.1 Firearms and Ammunition (3) May authorize, or designate in writing a person who may authorize, an officer to carry for a special purpose a firearm and ammunition of a type other than that referred to in Standards (1) and (2) above. (4) Must prohibit officers from carrying a firearm or ammunition other than those referred to in Standards (1), (2), or (3) above. (5) Must, on the request of the director, submit a report on all special firearms and ammunition issued and the reason for issuing them if an authorization is made under Standard (3). Holsters (5.1) Must ensure that only holsters, of any type, which have been approved by the chief constable, chief officer, commissioner or their delegate, are used by officers. (5.2) Must ensure that officers are provided training for each type of holster that is issued for use. Off duty carrying of firearms and ammunition (5.3) Must ensure that officers carry their issued firearms only when on assigned duty, unless otherwise authorized in writing or described in policy. Maintenance of firearms (6.1)Must ensure that an up-to-date inventory of all the police force’s firearms is maintained. (6.2)Must ensure that each firearm and all ammunition is securely stored when not in use. (6) Must ensure that each firearm in the inventory of their police force is maintained in good working order. Training, qualification and requalification for firearms (7) Deleted. See BCPPS 1.1.2 Firearms Training and Qualification. (8) Deleted. See BCPPS 1.1.2 Firearms Training and Qualification. (9) Deleted. See BCPPS 1.1.2 Firearms Training and Qualification. Policies and procedures (10) Must ensure policies and procedures are consistent with these BC Provincial Policing Standards. PROVINCIAL POLICING STANDARDS Section 1.0 – Use-of-Force Page 1 of 6 Sub Section 1.1 – Firearms Effective: January 1, 2017 Subject 1.1.2 – Firearms Training and Qualification Revised: n/a Definitions "Ammunition" – a projectile intended for use with a firearm. “Firearm” – a barrelled weapon from which any shot, bullet or other projectile can be discharged and that is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death to a person, and includes any frame or receiver of such a barrelled weapon, and anything that can be adapted for use as a firearm (as per section 2 of the Criminal Code Canada). A conducted energy weapon is not considered a firearm for the purposes of BCPPS 1.1.1 and 1.1.2. “Officer” – a constable appointed under the Police Act or an enforcement officer appointed under s. 18.1 of the Police Act. “Pistol” – a handgun; a firearm designed to be held in one hand. Standards The chief constable, chief officer, or commissioner must: Initial training and qualification (1) Ensure that an officer successfully completes a training course, approved by the Chief Constable, Chief Officer or Commissioner, for each type of firearm issued to that officer, and is qualified, before the officer is authorized to carry and use a firearm or ammunition under Standard (1),( 2), or (3) of BCPPS 1.1.1 Firearms and Ammunition. Qualification tests (2) Ensure that any officer authorized to carry and use a pistol is qualified on the use of the pistol each year, in accordance with the protocols described in the BC Pistol Qualification attached to this Standard as Appendix “A”. (3) Ensure that any officer authorized to carry and use a firearm or ammunition other than a pistol is qualified on the use of the firearm each year, in accordance with qualifications approved by the the Chief Constable, Chief Officer or Commissioner. BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL POLICING STANDARDS Page 2 of 6 SUBJECT: 1.1.2 Training, Qualification and Re-Qualification Additional requirements (4) Ensure that any officer authorized to carry and use a firearm is required, every three years at minimum, to articulate to the satisfaction of a use-of-force instructor as to when lethal force is justified. (5) Ensure that any officer authorized to carry and use a firearm is in compliance with BCPPS 3.2.2 Crisis Intervention and De-escalation Training.
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