2. Know when street check rules don’t apply

If following the street check rules could have a negative impact on the ability of the police to do their work, the police may be allowed to get information from you without following the rules.

The police don’t have to follow the street check rules if following them could:

• cause a problem with an investigation
• make the public unsafe
• force officers to share information that should be kept private

This does not happen often. But if it does, the police may not have to:

• tell you why they are asking for information (for example, if they got a tip about a crime from a person who wishes to remain unknown)
• tell you that you have the right to refuse (for example, if they suspect that someone you are with is a victim of human trafficking)
• give you a receipt with the officer’s information on it (for example, if the officer must respond to an urgent police call elsewhere and doesn’t have time)

If an officer does not follow the new rules, they must record their reason even if they don’t have time to give you a receipt.

Making a complaint about the police

If you have a complaint about the way police acted, contact the Office of the Independent Review Director. Follow their procedure to make a complaint about the police.