This is different from reporting a crime — this is about an officer's own conduct. Every province has an independent civilian body for exactly this.
By Province
Ontario
General conduct complaints go to the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD), which screens and can investigate directly or refer back to the service.
OIPRD — 1-877-411-4773 →British Columbia
The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) oversees municipal police conduct complaints in BC.
OPCC — 1-877-999-8707 →Alberta
General conduct complaints start with the Professional Standards Branch of the relevant police service, with appeals to the Law Enforcement Review Board (LERB). Alberta's Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is separate — it investigates only serious injury or death involving police, not general conduct complaints.
Quebec
General police ethics complaints go to the Commissaire à la déontologie policière. The Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI) is separate — it investigates only incidents involving serious injury or death.
RCMP (any province)
The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC) is the federal independent body for RCMP conduct, regardless of which province the incident occurred in.
CRCC — 1-800-665-6878 →Where ComplaintCA Fits
ComplaintCA doesn't replace the civilian oversight body for your province — it helps you identify the correct one and drafts a clear, factual complaint in one of 7 supported languages. If you need to report a crime rather than complain about an officer, see ComplaintCA's cyber crime reporting guide.
No need to read this whole guide — Asya can ask a few questions and point you to the right body in seconds.
Start with Asya Now →Frequently Asked
How do I file a complaint against a police officer in Canada?
File with your province's civilian oversight body — Ontario's OIPRD, BC's OPCC, or the equivalent. For the RCMP, file with the federal CRCC.
What's the difference between complaining about police and reporting a crime?
Reporting a crime asks police to investigate someone else. A police complaint is about an officer's own conduct — excessive force, rudeness, or improper procedure.
How do I complain about the RCMP?
File with the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC) at 1-800-665-6878.
Is there a time limit to file a police complaint?
Most provincial bodies require filing within 6 to 12 months of the incident, though some allow later filing with an explanation.
What happens after I file a complaint against police?
The oversight body screens it, then investigates directly, refers it back to the service with oversight, or dismisses it. You're notified and can usually appeal a dismissal.
What is ComplaintCA?
A Canadian civic complaint platform that routes you to the correct authority, with AI-assisted drafting in 7 languages, an MP finder, a lawyer panel, and cyber crime reporting support.
Sources & Verification
This guide is maintained by ComplaintCA and checked against the official sources linked throughout, including:
- OIPRD — Office of the Independent Police Review Director
- Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner BC
- Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP
Learn more about how ComplaintCA verifies information on our About page.