Evidence Submission Requests
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I receiving this request?
Through investigation, an officer has concluded that you or your business/organization have access to photos or videos that may have evidentiary value. The officer has sent you an email or text requesting you to upload your evidence from the hyperlink to our BPS cloud-based system.
Where will my digital evidence be stored?
BPS is participating in the Ministry of the Solicitor General’s provincial program that has introduced a standardized digital evidence management system to all police services across the province using a Canadian cloud-based storage system. The data will be stored within this system.
How secure is this storage system?
The Canadian cloud-based system includes features to ensure the evidence meets chain-of-custody requirements, is free from tampering, and contains a forensic fingerprint of each evidence file using industry standard SHA hash function. Integrity is validated before and after upload to ensure no changes occurred during transmission.
Full tamper-proof evidence audit records are created that cannot be edited or changed, even by account administrators. Evidence data is encrypted in transit and while at rest in storage.
How long will my evidence be stored for?
Any digital files submitted for an investigation but not used as evidence to support a prosecution are retained for a 30-month period. This takes into consideration the current civil limitation period of 24 months plus the time to serve a claim of 6 months.
If the files submitted are required as evidence in a court proceeding, they will be retained in accordance with existing evidence retention periods.
Who will have access to my digital evidence?
Strict controls govern who has access to your digital files. The investigating officer will have access to any evidence they have requested, along with their supervisor (for auditing purposes), and some officers from specialized investigative units as required. Anyone else who is required to view the files will submit a formal request for access. If your files are used to support a prosecution, they will be submitted to the Crown Attorney for review and may be presented as evidence in Court. Any information in BPS possession may be subject to a request under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and could be disclosed in accordance with that legislation. This process comes with a robust auditing and tracking system.
Who is permitted to edit my submitted photos or video?
Only members of the centralized file preparation unit, or in isolated circumstances the investigating officer, will be permitted to edit/vet the digital evidence for the purpose of redacting and vetting information required for court purposes. Original evidence files are never altered, even when derivative works (video segments) are created.
Can I delete my digital evidence file once I share it with the investigating officer?
No, do not delete any files that you have shared with the investigating officer as you may be required to produce them as evidence in a formal court proceeding. If you have any questions or concerns about the deletion of your files contained on your device, please contact the investigating officer directly for further direction and instructions.
