No possession arrests without ‘extenuating circumstances’: head of B.C. police group

Paramedics from B.C. ambulance tries to speak to a drug overdose victim in downtown Vancouver, on June 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

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 historically,” he said, referring to the period before decriminalization.

“We understand it’s a health issue as far as addiction to drugs, and unless there are extenuating circumstances, arrests will not be made for simple possession,” he said on Monday.

Chan said police were working closely with the provincial government to develop guidelines on how to handle the ending of the three-year pilot program in British Columbia, but people should not expect to see “a marked difference in what’s happening out on the streets.”

Chan said a committee consisting of representatives from his association as well as the provincial ministries of health, and public safety and solicitor general have been developing protocols.

“They’re not publicly available yet,” Chan said. “They’re still in the works, but they will be rolled out prior to Feb. 1 to all police agencies across the province.”

B.C. announced this month it would not seek an extension of the Health Canada exemption that decriminalized possession of up to 2.5 grams of drugs for personal use, including fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine.

Chan was speaking at a press conference in Victoria where the provincial government announced funding for a digital tool for police officers responding to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.

Nina Krieger, British Columbia’s minister of public safety and solicitor-general, said the province would provide the BC Association of Chiefs of Police with $2 million in annual funding to roll out the HealthIM tool across the province. 

“It provides real time evidence, informed guidance to help police assess risk, de-escalate situations and connect a person in crisis to the appropriate care,” Krieger said. “It enables police to make evidence based decisions about who should be transported to the ER and who should be redirected to more appropriate community based services.”

Chan said police are often the first point of contact when someone is in crisis, adding that these situations can be unpredictable and can carry significant risk for everyone involved. 

Chan said the app-based system allows officers to share information with health care providers in emergency departments in real time, so that risk can be assessed. 

“This supports safer interactions, better decision-making and faster, more appropriate pathways to care,” Chan said. “This tool does not, however, replace officer judgment. It strengthens it.”

This report by Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press, was first published Jan. 26, 2026.