Reporting offences to the Bureau
If you suspect an employee of the police or prosecuting authority of a criminal offence, you can report the matter to the Bureau. However, complaints concerning police behaviour that is unacceptable but does not constitute a criminal offence fall outside the Bureau’s sphere of work. Such complaints should be addressed to the police (see more about this below).
You can submit a written report of an offence in the form of a letter to the Bureau or to the police. The police will forward the report to the Bureau. Instead of writing a letter, you can submit a report orally in a personal meeting with the police. You can also, by arrangement, report an offence to the Bureau in person.
A report of an offence should normally contain the following points:
- The nature of the offence. The course of events should be described as accurately as possible.
- When and where the offence took place.
- Description or identity of one or more of the persons involved in the form of a service number or name, police district or station, etc.
- Names or descriptions of witnesses to the incident.
- If you suffered injuries, a medical record or the like will often be important evidence. If photographs of injuries or other photographs are enclosed with the report, information should be given of who took the photographs and when and where they were taken.
- The report must be signed by the person submitting it. If that person is under 18, the report should also be signed by a parent or guardian.
If the incident resulted in financial expenses, documentation of these should be enclosed with the report.
We are obliged to inform you that it is a criminal offence to make a false statement (accusation) resulting in another person being suspected of a criminal offence (see section 168 of the Criminal Code).
Complaints to the police
If you consider that you have been subjected to treatment that is unacceptable but does not constitute a criminal offence, you can submit a complaint to the Chief of Police in the police district concerned. Such complaints are dealt with in accordance with the instructions for processing communications concerning unacceptable behaviour by police officers in the execution of duty.
If the Bureau receives a complaint concerning behaviour that is unacceptable but not criminal, the complaint will normally be rejected and referred to the police for processing. A separate decision will be made concerning rejection of the complaint.
If the Bureau is unsure whether a communication is a complaint or a report of a criminal offence, you will be contacted and asked to provide further information.