Safety and security

All residents of B.C. need to be prepared for emergencies. Sometimes, people must evacuate (leave their homes very quickly) because of wildfires and floods. There can also be avalanches (large amounts of snow sliding down mountains), storms, and extreme heat. There are about 4,000 earthquakes in B.C. every year. Most are too small to be felt, but a big earthquake and tsunami (large ocean waves after an earthquake) can happen at any time. Other emergencies include epidemics and spills of dangerous materials.

Everyone in B.C. should make a home emergency plan. If an emergency happens, you will know what to do, where to go, how to get in touch with family, and much more. For information on how to make a home emergency plan online, visit PreparedBC. 

Every home should also have an emergency kit and grab-and-go bags. An emergency kit has tools and supplies to help everyone in your home stay safe for up to 2 weeks or more. Prepare your kit before an emergency so you are ready. Store your home emergency kit somewhere that’s safe, dry, and easy to reach, like in a closet. 

A grab-and-go bag is a small emergency kit (with supplies for a minimum of 24 hours) that’s easy to take with you, in case you need to leave right away. It's a good idea to make grab-and-go bags for your home, workplace, and vehicle.

During an emergency, official information will be posted on EmergencyInfoBC. You can get information about any emergencies, learn how to stay safe, and learn how to recover after an emergency. The website is updated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can get information about any emergencies, learn how to stay safe, and learn how to recover after an emergency.

Contact your local authority for more detailed and local emergency information. Your local authority may include your regional district, municipality, or First Nation.

If you are evacuated during an emergency, Emergency Support Services can help you with basic needs like a safe place to stay, food, clothing, and other temporary supports. 

Whether you rent or own your home, insurance is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family. Insurance covers the cost of repairing your home and replacing your belongings. It will typically cover accommodation and other living expenses if you are placed under an evacuation order. Find out more from the Insurance Bureau of Canada. 

In most places in B.C., the emergency phone number for fire, police, and ambulance is 9-1-1. The 9-1-1 call is free. When you call 9-1-1, an operator will answer the phone. The operator will ask if you need police, fire, or ambulance.

In most communities, you can ask for help in your own language. Learn the English word for the language you speak so you can get an interpreter. Also learn the words “police”, “fire”, and “ambulance” in English. If you can speak a little English, it will be easier for the 9-1-1 operator to help you.

In some very small communities, the emergency phone number is not 9-1-1. Ask for the emergency telephone number as soon as you arrive. Your settlement agency, town hall, or police department can tell you the number. You can also find it online. Search for “emergency number” and your community’s name.

9-1-1 tips

• Know your location (where you are calling from). Tell the operator the city, the address, the names of nearby streets, or other landmarks (such as a gas station, a school, or a store) so they can find you quickly.
• If you call 9-1-1 by mistake, do not hang up. Stay on the phone and tell the operator that it was a mistake. If you hang up, they may think you are in danger and send the police. You will not get in trouble for dialing 9-1-1 by mistake.
• Teach your children how to call 9-1-1 and ask for help. Teach them to say your address and the kind of help they need (fire, police, or ambulance).
• Do not program your phone to dial 9-1-1 automatically.
• Do not text 9-1-1. In an emergency, dial the phone number.
• Visit E-Comm 9-1-1 for emergency services information in several languages. 

In Canada, the police are separate from the government and the army. Their job is to protect people in the community.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is Canada’s national police organization. Most communities in B.C. have RCMP detachments (offices). Find the RCMP contact information in your community. 

Some communities have their own municipal police departments. Find out if your community has a municipal police department. 

Many cities and towns have 2 telephone numbers for the police. One number is for emergencies only—dangerous situations when you need police, an ambulance, or firefighters right away. A fire or a robbery is an example of an emergency.

In most communities, the emergency number is 9-1-1. In some very small communities, the emergency number is different. You can also ask your settlement agency or search online for your local emergency number.

You should only call the emergency number if:

• you are in danger
• you see someone else in danger
• a serious crime has just happened

If you call E-Comm and want to ask for help in your own language, say the name of your language in English. The person on the phone will find someone to translate. Learn about E-Comm’s interpretation services. 

The second police phone number is for non- emergencies—situations where you need help, but you aren’t in danger right now. Visit the E-Comm 9-1-1 website to find your community’s non-emergency phone number. 

You can call the non-emergency number if no one is in danger, or if time has passed since the crime happened.

If you are not sure which number to call, call the emergency number. Tell the police what is happening. You can call the police any time, day or night.

For more information about calling the police, visit E-Comm 9-1-1. 

Getting arrested by the police

The police help keep communities safe. They can arrest people who break the law. The police must also obey the law. For example, when they arrest people, police officers must say who they are. They must show their identification. They must explain why they are arresting the person. They must also tell the person what their rights are.

If you are arrested, the police officer may ask for your name and address. You must tell them. But you do not have to say anything else until you talk to a lawyer. If the police arrest you or ask you questions about a crime, they must let you phone a lawyer right away. You have the right to talk to a lawyer, and the police must let you talk to the lawyer by yourself.

If you do not know a lawyer or cannot afford one, contact BC Legal Aid. People who are arrested, detained, or under investigation for a crime can get free advice from a lawyer over the phone. You can also ask the police for Legal Aid BC’s phone number. The police officer must give you the number and let you call it. For more resources, see “Legal help and support” in the resources directory.

If you are arrested, the police must take you to court or release you (let you go) within 24 hours, or as soon as a judge is available.

Making a complaint against the police

If you think the police have broken the law, you can get help. The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) oversees complaints and investigations into municipal police in many communities across British Columbia. Find out more to see if the OPCC covers your community. 

For more information, or to register a concern about your municipal police, contact the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner.

If you have a complaint against the RCMP, you can contact the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP. 

Being a witness

A witness is someone who sees a crime or an accident as it is happening. Witnesses can give information to police. They can help the police find a criminal or understand what caused an accident. Witnesses are very important in Canadian law. If you witness a crime or accident, you should tell the police. If you are asked to testify (go to court and say what you saw), you must go.

If you witness a car accident, you can tell the driver your name and phone number. The driver may need you to tell the police what you saw. They may also need you to tell the insurance company or the court. For more information about what to do in a car accident, see the Driving page.

Child abuse is a very serious crime. The law says if you witness a child being hurt, abused, or neglected, you must report it. Learn more about reporting child abuse in B.C.. 

It is important to protect your belongings and your personal information. Always lock your home and your car. Do not leave valuable things where someone walking past your house or your car can see them. Do not hide extra keys outside your home. Always keep your bicycle indoors or lock it to a bike rack.

Thieves can also steal your personal information—your name, ID numbers, credit card numbers, etc. This is called identity theft. Thieves can use your personal information to commit a crime or steal your money. Keep important documents and information—such as your passport, Social Insurance Number, credit cards, and bank account number—in a safe place. Do not put paper with personal information in the garbage or recycling bin. Shred or tear it up. This includes bills with your name, address, and account numbers.

Learn more about identity theft. 

Fraud and scams are tricks people use to steal money or personal information. Fraud is when someone lies to get something from you. Fraud can also include misleading someone, making something sound better than it is, or leaving out important information. Scams are plans to trick people, like fake phone calls or emails asking for money.

Many Canadians have received phone calls, texts, or emails from scammers. Some scammers target new immigrants and seniors. Scammers may call you and say you can earn a lot of money by investing in something. They will try to make you think you will miss a good opportunity if you say no. Some scammers may try to scare you by saying you owe the Canadian government money. They may ask for your bank account number, credit card information, or Social Insurance Number. This is so they can steal your money.

The Canadian and British Columbian governments will never ask for private information, bank account information, or credit card numbers by email or phone.

Sometimes, a fake government website, email, or letter can look just like the real one. Never give anyone your personal information or send money without checking to make sure they are not a scammer. If you need to send money or information to someone you don’t know well, check with your bank or a settlement worker first. They can help you check and avoid scammers.

Not all calls from people you don’t know are scams. Some are from real businesses trying to sell their products. These are called “cold calls”. If you do not want to receive these calls, you can register for the government of Canada’s Do Not Call List. You will get fewer calls from real companies. However, this list does not stop scammers from calling you.

Types of fraud and scams

Online fraud and scams

Fraud over the internet is called “internet fraud” or “cybercrime”. One example of cybercrime is when someone contacts you to trick you into giving them personal information. Another example is when a thief gets into a company computer’s records and steals your name and password. The Government of Canada has information about how to protect yourself from cybercrime. 

Many scams use the names of real businesses and organizations. These organizations will warn people about these scams using their names. Search the internet for the name of the organization and the word “scam”. For example, if you search for “Canada Revenue Agency scam”, you will see this website. 

Click on “Latest Scam Alerts” to see examples of how scammers are pretending to be with the Canada Revenue Agency to trick people.

Many scammers send emails that look like they’re from a real organization. They will put a link in the email and tell the reader to click the link. Check the website address very carefully. Sometimes, there will be a small change—a different letter, a number, or letters in the wrong place. If the link looks strange, don’t click it. It may take you to a scammer’s website.

If you are new to Canada, or trying to immigrate to Canada, people may try to trick you with immigration fraud and scams. The B.C. government has information about recognizing and reporting immigration fraud and scams. 

Telephone fraud and scams

Criminals can also use phone calls or text messages to trick people. Phone scammers may call or message you pretending to be a company or the Canada Revenue Agency. They may ask for your banking information or personal information. They may say that you have a bill or owe them money immediately.

You might even get a call from someone pretending to be a friend or family member in trouble. This is a very common scam. Ask the caller a question only the family member would know, like when you last saw each other, or what movie you watched together.

Never buy anything over the phone from someone you don’t know. If someone calls you to sell you something, asks for money, asks for personal or banking information, or says they will cut off your service for something (such as heat, water, or telephone service), hang up immediately.

If you get a text message you weren’t expecting, don’t click on any links. Legitimate (real and legal) companies will not text you to ask for your account information. Forward the text message to 7726 (SPAM).

If you think the message might be real, call the company or agency directly. Make sure you get their real contact information. Do not call any phone numbers or click any links in the text message.

For more information:

• Learn more about fraud and scams.
• Learn how to identify investment fraud.
• Learn more about reporting text message scams. 
• Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to report a fraud or scam. You can also visit the website to see examples of scams that have happened recently.
• If you think someone may be trying to scam you, call the police. The Canadian government has information about how to report a scam. 
• The Canadian government also has information about how to protect your personal information. 
• The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) website has information about online crime. 
• The Canada Safety Council also has information to help you protect yourself and your family against cyberbullying and online scams.