Freedom of Information
The Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Coordinator’s main function is to ensure that the Delta Police Department complies with the BC Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA) and other statutes.
The Act provides two basic rights for members of the public:
- The right to access information in government records
- The right to have personal information protected from unauthorized collection, use and disclosure.
- The Act is intended to be an avenue of last resort. It is to be used when the information is not available through normal access procedures.
To request a copy of records believed to be held by our office, please complete a Request for Access to Records form (FOI request form). If you are requesting records containing information about yourself, we will require a photocopy of your government-issued photo identification such as a driver’s licence or passport. There is no charge to obtain your own personal information. You may submit your request in the following ways.
In Writing:
Delta Police Department
4455 Clarence Taylor Crescent
Delta, BC V4K 3E1
Attention: FOI Unit
Phone: 604.946.4411
By Fax:
To the FOI Unit Fax line at 604.940.7342
Motor vehicle accident reports
If you are involved in motor vehicle accident, if applicable, you will be given a copy of the Traffic Accident Report or Form MV6020 by the police officer at the scene of the accident.
However, there are times when the officer is unable to complete it at the time. If you did not receive it at the time, a copy will be mailed to you as soon as it has been completed.
If ICBC requests you contact our department for your Traffic Accident Report, please note this is not necessary because the adjuster will contact us and we will provide the report to them directly.
Fees
There are no fees when an individual requests their own information; however, the FOIPPA does allow fees to be assessed when requesting other information. If it is determined a fee may be levied, an applicant will be contacted and a fee estimate will be provided.
Delivery of response
We will mail your response to your address as indicated on the request form, alternatively, upon request, we will phone you to pick up your response at the front counter of our Headquarters Building located at 4455 Clarence Taylor Crescent or our North Delta Public Safety Building, 11375 84th Avenue, Delta. You will be required to provide photo identification when picking up your records. We do not fax or email responses out of concern for personal privacy.
Time for response
We have 30 business days to respond to your request, unless an extension for a further 30 days is required, the regular time limit is not sufficient to locate the records, or we must consult with third parties before access can be granted. Usually we respond well within the initial 30-day period.
Severing
When you receive your response you may notice that certain information has been severed, i.e., blacked out. The Delta Police Department must withhold the personal information of other people, and may withhold information that could harm a law enforcement matter. Other information may be required to be severed depending on the nature of the request. Whenever we sever information, we will explain our reasons for doing so.
For more information
Detailed information about the application of FOIPPA to the records of public bodies such as Delta Police Department may be found on the website of the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner at http://www.oipc.bc.ca.