Service Policy Complaints

Under the Police Act, the Victoria Police Board has authority for service and policy complaints against the Department, and the disciplinary authority for complaints against the Chief Constable.

Service or policy complaints are described in s.168 of the Police Act, as complaints to the effect that one or more of the following are inadequate or inappropriate for or in relation to the conduct of a municipal police department:

• Policies
• Procedures
• Standing orders
• Supervision and management controls
• Training programs and resources
• Staffing
• Resource allocation
• Procedures or resources that are available to permit it to respond to requests for assistance
• Any other internal operational or procedural matter.

How the Board processes complaints
The Victoria Police Board follows the provisions of the Police Act when processing service and policy complaints.


Making a complaint
Your right to make a complaint about a municipal police department is set out in the Police Act. You can make a complaint about the services and policies of the Victoria Police Department directly to the Board or to the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC). 

If your complaint is about the actions of an individual police officer (a conduct complaint), you can submit it to the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner or to the Professional Standards Section of the Victoria Police Department.

In either case you should use the OPCC's Complaint Form.

Complaints made about the Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constables
The Police Act states that the Chair of the Police Board is the discipline authority for conduct complaints made about the Chief Constable or a Deputy Chief Constable.

If you have any questions about the process of making a complaint you can contact:

Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (Victoria Office)
3rd Floor - 756 Fort Street
PO Box 9895 STN PROV GOVT
VICTORIA, BC V8W 9T8
info@opcc.bc.ca
(250) 356-7458

Victoria Police Board
Board@vicpd.ca
(250) 995-7248

Victoria Police Department - Professional Standards Section
850 Caledonia Avenue
Victoria, BC V8T 5J8
(250) 995 - 7219