Common Questions
Q. What is the Transit Police Service?
A. The Transit Police Service is the working name for the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service. It is an accredited police service under the BC Police Act. It provides policing on and around the transit system supplemental to the jurisdictional (municipal and RCMP) police. This is to help improve safety and security for the public, passengers and transit employees and property.
The Transit Police Service is supplemental policing unit in Metro Vancouver. The joint cooperative and collaborative relationship contributes to a "seamless" policing model in the communities public transit serves. The Transit Police is not the SkyTrain Police or Translink Police. It is the first Transit Police Service in Canada.
Q. What is the background of the officers in the Transit Police Service?
A. Numerous Transit Police Service officers have served with other police departments, such as Vancouver, Delta and New Westminster, as well as the RCMP. Many of the officers are recent graduates of the Justice Institute of BC (Police Academy). Some of the previous Special Provincial Constables who had worked for many years on the transit system have joined the Transit Police Service, following full training at the Justice Institute of BC.
Q. What is the Transit Police Service's mandate?
A. To preserve and maintain the public peace, prevent crime and offences against the law, aid in the administration of justice and enforce the laws of Canada and British Columbia, primarily directed towards:
(i) Any criminal activity or breach of public peace that could affect the safety or security of transit passengers, employees or property
(ii) Conducting investigation and enforcement operations with respect to any unlawful activity on or around transit vehicles and transit property. This does not prevent the Transit Police Service officers from conducting their duties away from transit property.
Q. What powers does the Transit Police Service have?
A. Transit Police officers have the full powers of provincial police, including the ability to arrest people for outstanding warrants, enforce drug laws, and the ability to enforce the Criminal Code of Canada both on and off transit property. Transit Police officers issue violation tickets for infractions of provincial statutes on and off transit property.
Q. Do Transit Police officers carry firearms and, if so, why?
A. Yes, Transit Police officers carry firearms. Like other police officers, they must meet provincial policing standards with respect to the use of force and firearms qualifications. The reason for issuing firearms is because Transit Police officers are provincial police officers with the same authority as municipal and RCMP police agencies.
Q. What is the difference between the responsibilities for SkyTrain attendants, Transit Security (Coast Mountain Bus Company - CMBC) and Transit Police officers?
A. Transit Police Service responsibilities include:
• Making the system safe by arresting those wanted for outstanding warrants or for criminal offences. Investigating criminal behavior and the implementation of crime reduction strategies
• Patrolling trains, stations and transit property for added safety and security of transit passengers and employees; and,
• Enforcing provincial and federal laws, including issuing violation tickets for violations of the Transit Conduct and Safety Regulations, Liquor Control Act and the Motor Vehicle Act, to name a few
CMBC Transit Security responsibilities include:
• Helping ensure the safety and security of transit employees and passengers, and the protection of corporate assets and property
• Handling incidents that are of a non-criminal nature
• Gathering information and statistics through a quarterly fare audit
SkyTrain attendants (STAs) responsibilities include:
• Providing customer service
• Providing first aid and emergency service
• Trouble shooting train and station operations
•Performing fare inspections
Q. Which areas do the Transit Police Service focus on?
A. The Transit Police Service focus on the safety and security of the public transit system. Transit Police Service is intelligence led. Our resources are deployed throughout the system. We target problem areas with additional resources. Reassurance policing is our method, on foot, on bikes, and in cars.
Q. Are Transit Police officers on buses?
A. Yes, Transit Police officers are on buses, both in uniform and in plainclothes.
Q. What is the Transit Police Board responsible for?
A. The Transit Police Board is responsible for the governance and oversight of the Transit Police Service. The Transit Police Board is established by legislation, and covers five core functions:
• Approves financial budget and resourcing levels
• Appoints constables and Officers
• Establishes policy, goals and strategic direction
• Monitors police service
• Responsible for complaints against the Chief Officer and Deputy Chief Officer, and any service and policy complaints