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Part of New and proposed legislation

Modernizing Alberta's Police Act

The Police Amendment Act (Bill 6) increases police transparency and enhances public trust to help build safer communities.

Status: The Police Amendment Act, 2022, received royal assent December 15, 2022
Ministry responsible: Public Safety and Emergency Services, Justice

Overview

The Police Amendment Act, 2022, (formerly Bill 6) improves police accountability and enhances public confidence by reforming policing practices and strengthening ties to the community.

The act amends the Police Act to establish an independent agency to manage complaints against police, expand the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) mandate, foster greater collaboration between police and communities and encourage diversity and inclusion.

The act also mandates the creation of formal civilian governance bodies in jurisdictions policed by the RCMP and gives these communities a greater role in setting policing priorities and performance goals. This responds to a long-standing desire from those communities.  

Changes reflect the modern role of the police serving as a responsive extension of the community and would mark the first major reform to the Police Act in 34 years. Amendments to the act were developed following extensive engagement with Albertans, law enforcement, health and social services sectors, municipalities, Indigenous communities and communities representing cultural and ethnic diversity.

Key changes

The Police Amendment Act, 2022:

  • establishes an independent agency, the Police Review Commission, to manage complaints against police and conduct disciplinary proceedings

  • mandates the creation of civilian governing bodies for communities policed by the RCMP

  • expands the mandate of ASIRT to investigate cases of serious injury or death, as well as serious and sensitive allegations involving peace officers (for example, Alberta Sheriffs and community peace officers) 

  • requires police to develop community safety plans and report annually on their progress

  • requires police to create diversity and inclusion plans to reflect the communities they serve and better understand their needs

  • enables the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services to set provincial policing priorities to help foster consistency in policing across Alberta

  • requires police commissions to create their own policing priorities that consider the provincial priorities and report annually on their progress

  • adds 8 guiding principles for Alberta police services to provide a foundation of core beliefs and values

  • makes administrative changes to the Law Enforcement Review Board

For more information, read the Police Amendment Act fact sheet.

Next steps

The Police Amendment Act, 2022, took effect when it received royal assent on December 15, 2022.

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