The Victoria Police Department has made public a comprehensive set of race-based use-of-force statistics, covering a six-year period. This release comes more than a year after the department was directed by the B.C. Human Rights Commissioner to share this data.
Compliance with a Human Rights Order
The data disclosure was not voluntary but was mandated by an order from the provincial Human Rights Commissioner in November 2024. The police force has now complied, providing a detailed look at interactions where force was used, broken down by the racial background of the individuals involved. This move is seen as a significant step toward greater transparency and accountability in policing practices.
Scope and Significance of the Data
The released dataset spans from 2020 to 2025, offering a longitudinal view of trends. Analysts and community advocates are expected to scrutinize the numbers to identify potential patterns of disproportionate force used against racialized communities. This is the first time VicPD has released such specifically categorized information publicly, setting a precedent for other police services in British Columbia and across Canada.
The publication aligns with growing calls for police reform and evidence-based discussions on systemic racism within law enforcement institutions. The data provides a factual foundation for community dialogue, policy review, and potential changes to officer training and deployment protocols.
Context and Next Steps
The order from the Human Rights Commissioner was part of a broader effort to address systemic discrimination. The release of this data is not an endpoint but a starting point for analysis and action. Community groups, the police board, and independent oversight bodies will likely use the statistics to inform recommendations and measure progress on equity goals.
While the raw data is now public, the full impact will depend on the subsequent analysis and the concrete steps taken by the police department and governing bodies in response to the findings. The Victoria Police Department has stated it is committed to building trust and ensuring policing services are equitable for all residents.
