April 29, 2026
BCACP Statement on the BC Coroners Service Report on Intimate Partner Violence
Intimate partner violence remains a serious and persistent issue across British Columbia, with profound and lasting impacts on individuals, families, and communities.
The release of Our Time to Act: A Review of Intimate Partner Violence-Related Deaths in British Columbia reinforces the urgency of clarifying how systems prevent, identify, and address this violence. The report highlights gaps in consistency and coordination, underscoring the need for clearer expectations in decision-making and stronger alignment across agencies responsible for protecting those at risk.
Addressing intimate partner violence requires sustained, system-wide effort, including continued coordination across policing, justice, and social services, alongside a shared commitment to supporting victims and holding offenders accountable.
The British Columbia Association of Chiefs of Police is working alongside the Province to translate these recommendations into practice, advancing policy, operational approaches, and training to support more effective responses. This includes improving how information is shared and acted on across systems to better identify risk and intervene earlier, and strengthening mechanisms to review incidents, identify systemic gaps, and continuously improve how risk is managed across jurisdictions.
BCACP remains committed to working with government and partners to ensure this work leads to greater alignment in how cases are handled, stronger protection for those at risk, and increased confidence in how the system responds to intimate partner violence across British Columbia.
Deputy Chief Andrew Chan
President, BC Association of Chiefs of Police