Police services board required to have these policies in Ontario

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Published Mar 5, 2025, edited Mar 6, 2026

Every Police Service Board (PSB) in Ontario must prepare a establish the following policies to guide the police service in the municipality:

Police service board policies

38 (1) A police service board shall establish policies respecting,

  • (a)  the administration of the police service;
  • (b)  the provision of adequate and effective policing in accordance with the needs of the population of the area for which it has policing responsibility;
  • (c)  disclosure by the chief of police of personal information about individuals;
  • (d)  disclosure of secondary activities under section 89 and decisions under that section;
  • (e)  the handling of discipline within the police service;
  • (f)  subject to subsection (4), the indemnification of members of the police service for legal costs; and
  • (g)  any other prescribed matters.
    • Section 24 of O. Reg. 392/23: Adequate and Effective Policing adds:
      • The publication of crime analysis, call analysis and public disorder analysis data, and of information on crime trends (data and information must be published annually on the internet).
      • Every matter with respect to which a chief of police is required under this Regulation to establish procedures.

Other policies

(2) In addition to the policies required by subsection (1), a police service board may establish policies respecting any other matters related to the police service or the provision of policing.

Section 38 of the Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA)

Policies may also include

  • Procedure By-law
  • Board Policy Manual
  • Donations and Sponsorship
  • Community Contacts (ID/carding interactions)
  • False Alarm Reduction Bylaw
  • Facial Recognition & Surveillance Technology
  • Alarm Appeals Document
  • Public Consultation Policy
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Public Complaints
  • Internal Complaints
  • Body-Worn Cameras
  • Dash Cameras
  • Drone Use
  • Executing a Search Warrant/Unannounced/Dynamic Entry (no-knock raids)
  • Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG)
  • Search of Persons
  • Use of Force
  • Use of Artificial Intelligence
  • Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR)
  • Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance
  • etc.

PSBs are required to publish all policies online

(7) The police service board shall publish the policies referred to in subsections (1) and (2) on the Internet in accordance with the regulations made by the Minister, if any.

Section 38 (7) of the CSPA

PSBs publishing policies online

Sarnia Police

Kingston Police

Peterborough Police

Ottawa Police

Durham Regional Police

York Regional Police Service Board

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