US EditionNo possession arrests without ‘extenuating circumstances’: head of B.C. police chiefs
B.C. will restore police authority to arrest for drug possession in limited cases while investing $2 million annually in a HealthIM tool to assist officers with crisis responses.
- On Jan. 31, B.C. will end the Health Canada exemption and decriminalization of possession up to 2.5 grams, Andrew Chan said people won’t be arrested `unless there are extenuating circumstances`.
- Chan said a committee of the BC Association of Chiefs of Police and provincial ministries developed protocols to handle the three-year pilot’s end, and they will be rolled out to all police agencies across British Columbia before the end of the month.
- At a Victoria press conference, the provincial government announced $2,000,000 annual funding for the HealthIM digital tool to help police officers assess risk and connect people to care.
- Police noted they view addiction as a health issue but retain arrest powers since Andrew Chan said disorder and complexities mean officers have tools to arrest.
- The timing — days before Jan. 31 — frames potential shifts in policing as officials said restored arrest powers and HealthIM's province-wide rollout could change frontline responses.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Barrie Today
No possession arrests without 'extenuating circumstances': head of B.C. police chiefs
VICTORIA — The president of the BC Association of Chiefs of Police says people will not be arrested for possession of small amounts of drugs after the end of decriminalization on Jan. 31, "unless there are extenuating circumstances.
No possession arrests without ‘extenuating circumstances’: head of B.C. police group
The president of the BC Association of Chiefs of Police says people will not be arrested for possession of small amounts of drugs after the end of decriminalization on Jan. 31, “unless there are extenuating circumstances.”
Winnipeg Free Press
No possession arrests without 'extenuating circumstances': head of B.C. police group
Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada
No possession arrests without ‘extenuating circumstances’: head of B.C. police chiefs
VICTORIA — The president of the BC Association of Chiefs of Police says people will not be arrested for possession of small amounts of drugs after the end of decriminalization on Jan. 31, "unless there are extenuating circumstances." Andrew Chan, who is also Deputy Chief of the Vancouver Police Department, said that while both municipal police forces and RCMP could potentially arrest people possessing drugs, "that hasn't been the case historical…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 80% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
