How to complete the form

• You may type your request or use a pen. Please do not use a pencil
• Be sure to complete all sections of the form
• Contact the New Brunswick Police Commission (NBPC)

Once you have completed the Complaint Form, please email to:  [email protected]

New Brunswick Police Commission
435 King Street, suite 202
Fredericton, New Brunswick
E3B 1E5
Canada

If you would like more information on what to include in your complaint, please see the Guideline: Tips on making a complaint.

• Conduct Complaint against Police Officer
• Conduct Complaint against Chief of Deputy Chief
• Service/Policy Complaint

Any member of the public can make a complaint against the police. A parent or guardian can make a complaint on behalf of a minor or a person who is mentally incompetent.

The Police Act defines two types of complaint. A conduct complaint relates to the conduct of a member of a police force. A service or policy complaint relates to the services provided by or the policies of a police force.

The Police Commission oversees New Brunswick’s nine municipal / regional police forces. You can make a conduct complaint about any member of a police force. You can make a service complaint about the services or policies of any of the police forces.

Municipal / Regional police forces:

Bathurst          Edmundston     Fredericton      Grand Falls     Miramichi        

Saint John       Woodstock       BNPP Regional Police     Kennebecasis Regional Police Force

If you have a complaint about the RCMP, please send it to the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP. The New Brunswick Police Act does not give the Police Commission the power to manage complaints about the RCMP.

No. The Police Act does not give the Police Commission the power to deal with complaints about a retired police officers.

Yes. Any person who makes a bad faith complaint, makes false or misleading statements, or prevents the filing of a complaint commits an offence. It is punishable under Part II of the Provincial Offences Procedure Act. It is a Category F offence.

English and French are the official languages of New Brunswick. The Police Commission will serve you in your official language of choice

The Police Commission is subject to the New Brunswick Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. We will only share information that the Police Act requires us to share.

File your complaint as soon as you can. This improves the chances of collecting reliable testimony. It may help with a speedier resolution of the complaint.

A. You must file your complaint no later than 12 months after the incident occurred. If your complaint exceeds this time limit, please contact the Police Commission or refer to the Guideline: Time limit extension for making a complaint

The chief of police, civic authority, or the Police Commission, will help you with the filing of your complaint. You can reach the Police Commission at

(506) 453- 2069

[email protected]

The Police Commission does not accept anonymous complaints. To ensure a fair and transparent investigation, you must make your complaint in writing and you must name yourself. 

Conduct Complaint

If your complaint is about a police officer’s conduct, the chief of police will manage it. If your complaint is about a deputy chief or chief of police’s conduct, the civic authority will manage it. For more information please see the Police Commission’s Guideline: Who processes a complaint.

Upon receipt of your complaint, the chief will notify the officer of the complaint.

The next step is to assess the officer’s conduct and decide if it is possible to resolve the complaint informally. You and the officer will receive written notice of the chief’s decision.

If there is an informal resolution, the chief will send written notice of the results to you and the Police Commission. You have fourteen days, from date you receive the results, to ask the Police Commission for a review.

If an informal resolution is not possible, the chief shall begin an investigation into the conduct complaint.  The chief will give you and the police officer written notice of the investigation.

Service or Policy Complaint

If your complaint is about the services or policies of a police force, the chief of police or the civic authority will manage it. The chief of police or the civic authority will give you and the Police Commission written notice of how they acted on the complaint.

You can file a written notice of withdrawal of your complaint. You must file the notice with the chief of police, civic authority, or the Police Commission. Even if you withdraw your complaint, the Police Commission, chief of police, or civic authority may choose to process the complaint.