Public bodies are bound by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA). This Act came into effect in 1993 and provides specific guidelines and privacy rights regarding information that is collected or controlled by public bodies in British Columbia.

The Act is intended to be an avenue of last resort. It is to be used when the information is not available through other means of access.

How to make a Freedom of Information (FOI) Request

A request to access information under the Act must be made in writing and in person. 

Please make your request as specific as possible. If available, please provide case numbers, exact dates and addresses, as well as names or badge numbers of the officers involved. This will assist us in conducting an accurate search for the requested information. Under the Act, public bodies have 30 business days to respond to your request - and in certain circumstances, a 30 business day extension may apply.

If you have any questions regarding this process, please email us at FOI@cspolice.ca.

Personal Information

If you are requesting personal records about yourself, your identity will be verified to ensure that access is being granted to the right person.  Please be prepared to provide government-issued identification such as a driver’s licence or a passport. This can be done upon upon collection of your documents.

Information That Will Not Be Provided

If the record you are requesting contains personal information about someone other than yourself, and it would be an unreasonable invasion of that person’s privacy to provide that personal information, access to that information will not be granted without a Court Order, or written consent from the other party.

The Act contains other exemptions that may have to be considered depending on the nature of the request  This includes exemptions that protect specific types of information related to law enforcement.

Fees

The FOIPPA provides individuals with access to their personal information free of charge. Access to other information may be subject to a fee.