The president of the BC Association of Chiefs of Police has announced that as of January 31, small-scale drug possession will not lead to immediate arrests, except under special circumstances. Andrew Chan, also the Deputy Chief of the Vancouver Police Department, emphasized that law enforcement is collaborating closely with the provincial government to establish new protocols following the conclusion of the three-year decriminalization pilot program in British Columbia.
According to Chan, the public should not anticipate significant changes in street-level activities. A joint committee comprising representatives from the police association and the provincial ministries of health, public safety, and solicitor general is formulating guidelines that will be shared across all law enforcement agencies in the province before the month ends.
British Columbia has decided not to request an extension of the Health Canada exemption that permitted possession of up to 2.5 grams of drugs like fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine for personal use. While the termination of decriminalization may allow for potential arrests for possession, Chan stressed that historically, this has not been the norm.
Although acknowledging addiction as a health concern, Chan highlighted that officers will now have the discretion to arrest individuals in specific situations involving disorder or other complexities.