BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
Your Data Your Rights
How can I request 911 Records in BC?
To request 911 records, an applicant must directly contact and request from the originating emergency agency. For example, if a police department was involved, that specific police department in the relevant jurisdiction should be contacted. Please see E-Comm’s 911 website for more information.
Requests for audio recordings of 911 calls may be denied based on section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which protects the privacy of third parties. In this case, the Act protects the privacy of the 911 attendant—specifically their voice—as they may be identified. This was reflected recently in the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC’s F22-09 order. However, if the 911 attendant agrees to the disclosure, then the audio recording request may be fulfilled. Alternatively, public institutions will typically provide a transcript of the call that protects the personal information of any third parties.
Updated 2024.07. 27
These pages were last updated and reviewed in the summer of 2024.
The information on these pages only contains general information and guidance; none of the information constitutes legal advice. If you have a specific issue that you believe is a legal problem, the best practice is to consult a lawyer.
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