According to Latoya Farrell, Policy Counsel of BC Civil Liberties Association, “The VPD policy on street checks has taken some steps in the right direction but we still have significant concerns on a number of issues including the annual audit as mandated by the provincial standards. It is also unclear how VPD members who breach the policy will be held accountable. We are always concerned when people’s rights are being encroached as a result of state intervention.”

VANCOUVER – Vancouver Police have finalized a ‘street checks and police stops’ policy in line with new provincial policing standards issued by the Province of B.C. that went into effect on January 15.

All police agencies in B.C. are required to abide by the new provincial standards and introduce internal policy to provide direction to staff to ensure compliance with the standard. The VPD’s policy was approved by the Vancouver Police Board electronically earlier this month to ensure it was finalized and officers are trained prior to January 15.

Street checks are a valuable proactive tool for police. Although they are used infrequently – an average of one street check, per front line officer, per month – they play an important role in crime prevention and ensuring the safety of the public.

According to Latoya Farrell, Policy Counsel of BC Civil Liberties Association, “The VPD policy on street checks has take some steps in the right direction but we still have significant concerns on a number of issues including the annual audit as mandated by the provincial standards. It is also unclear how VPD members who breach the policy will be held accountable. We are always concerned when people’s rights are being encroached as a result of state intervention.”

The new policy, called Conducting and Documenting Street Checks and Police Stops (1.6.53), is available for the public to read, along with other VPD policies and procedures<https://vancouver.ca/police/assets/pdf/manuals/vpd-manual-regulations-procedures.pdf>, at vpd.ca.