Dealing with police reports in British Columbia can feel like deciphering a foreign language. All those codes, abbreviations, and technical terms might leave you scratching your head, wondering what exactly happened during an incident. Whether you’re reviewing a report for your own case, conducting research, or simply curious about understanding law enforcement documentation, knowing how to interpret these codes is an invaluable skill.
In BC, police reports follow specific formatting and coding systems that help officers efficiently document incidents while maintaining consistency across departments. Let’s break down how to read these mysterious codes and make sense of official police documentation.
Understanding the Basic Structure
Police reports in British Columbia typically begin with identifying information – case numbers, dates, times, and locations. This header section might seem straightforward, but it often contains your first encounter with coded information.
For example, you might see something like “File #2023-12345” followed by “Code 10-54” or similar numeric designations. These aren’t random numbers but rather specific identifiers that tell officers and other authorized personnel what type of incident they’re dealing with.
The structure generally follows this pattern:
- Header with identification numbers
- Responding officer information
- Incident classification codes
- Narrative description
- Involved parties section
- Evidence documentation
- Disposition codes
Each section contains valuable information, often presented in abbreviated form to save space and time.
Common Police Codes in BC
British Columbia police forces primarily use a combination of:
- Ten-codes (10-codes)
- Provincial statute codes
- Criminal code references
- Priority codes
- Disposition codes
Let’s examine each category to help you understand what you’re reading.
Deciphering 10-Codes
Ten-codes originated as a way for officers to communicate briefly over radio systems. These codes have made their way into written reports as well. While there can be some variation between jurisdictions, many common codes are standardized across BC.
Some frequently encountered 10-codes include:
- “10-4”: Message received/acknowledged
- “10-7”: Out of service
- “10-8”: In service
- “10-10”: Fight in progress
- “10-20”: Location
- “10-27”: Driver’s license check
- “10-29”: Check for wanted status
- “10-31”: Crime in progress
- “10-37”: Suspicious vehicle
- “10-45”: Animal problem
- “10-49”: Traffic light out
- “10-50”: Accident (no injuries)
- “10-55”: Intoxicated driver
- “10-57”: Hit and run
- “10-66”: Suspicious person
- “10-80”: Chase in progress
When you see these codes in a report, they indicate specific situations or actions taken by officers. For example, a notation of “Officer proceeded 10-57” means the officer was responding to a hit-and-run incident.
Provincial Statute Codes
BC police reports often reference provincial statutes using abbreviated codes. These typically relate to non-criminal offenses governed by provincial law rather than the federal Criminal Code.
Common provincial statute codes include:
- “MVA”: Motor Vehicle Act violations
- “LCA”: Liquor Control Act infractions
- “CDSA”: Controlled Drugs and Substances Act violations
- “MHA”: Mental Health Act calls
Each of these may be followed by specific section numbers. For instance, “MVA 144(1)(c)” refers to a specific subsection of the Motor Vehicle Act dealing with particular traffic violations.
Criminal Code References
When criminal activities are documented, officers reference the Canadian Criminal Code using “CC” followed by section numbers. These codes pinpoint exactly what laws were allegedly broken.
For example:
- “CC 266”: Assault
- “CC 264.1”: Uttering threats
- “CC 322”: Theft
- “CC 348”: Breaking and entering
- “CC 253”: Impaired driving
Seeing “CC 264.1” in a report means the incident involved someone making threats, which is covered under that specific section of the Criminal Code.
Understanding Priority Codes
Police reports may include priority designations indicating the urgency of a call. These typically appear near the beginning of the report and follow a numerical system:
- Priority 1: Emergency response required (life-threatening)
- Priority 2: Urgent response needed (potential for harm)
- Priority 3: Prompt response required (in-progress incident)
- Priority 4: Routine call (no immediate danger)
A report marked “P1” or “Priority 1” indicates the highest level of emergency response was initiated.
Disposition Codes
At the end of most reports, you’ll find disposition codes indicating how the case was resolved or its current status. These vary somewhat between departments but commonly include:
- “CLR”: Cleared (case resolved)
- “CLR-A”: Cleared by arrest
- “CLR-UC”: Unfounded complaint
- “OPN”: Open investigation
- “SUS”: Suspended investigation
- “REF”: Referred to another agency
- “GOA”: Gone on arrival
Seeing “GOA” means that when officers arrived at the scene, the reported individuals were no longer present.
Tips for Reading BC Police Reports
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Create a reference guide: Build your own glossary of codes you encounter frequently.
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When in doubt, ask: If reviewing your own report, don’t hesitate to ask the officer or records department for clarification.
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Look for patterns: Codes often appear in logical sequences that tell the story of the incident.
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Check for local variations: Some regional detachments may use slightly different code systems.
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Pay attention to timestamps: These help establish the sequence of events.
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Note officer badge numbers: These identify which officers were involved at different stages.
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Review the narrative section carefully: This often provides plain-language context for the coded information.
Accessing Police Reports in BC
If you need to obtain a police report in British Columbia, you typically need to submit a request to the specific police department that handled the incident. Most departments require:
- Proper identification
- Proof of involvement or legal right to access
- Payment of administrative fees
- Completion of specific request forms
For your own incidents, you’re generally entitled to access reports, though some information may be redacted to protect privacy or ongoing investigations.
Final Thoughts
Understanding police report codes in British Columbia opens up a clearer picture of law enforcement documentation. While the system may initially seem complex, the codes serve important purposes in standardizing communication and efficiently documenting incidents.
Whether you’re reviewing a report for personal reasons, legal proceedings, or professional requirements, breaking the code gives you valuable insights into what really happened according to official documentation.
Remember that police reports represent an officer’s account of events, documented using standardized systems. The codes themselves are designed not to obscure but to create consistency across thousands of reports generated throughout the province each day.