Planning, Research and Audit Section

The Planning, Research and Audit Section (PRA), formerly and still informally called the Crime Audit Office or just Crime Audit, is a unit of the British Columbia Provincial Police (BCPP) attached to the Executive Office of the Chief Constable and answerable to the Deputy Chief Constable. The unit is tasked with compiling and analysing statistics and figures related to crime rate and type and police efficiency.

The Planning, Research and Audit Section is led by a superintendent or chief superintendent, with administration the responsibility of a civilian director and two civilian audit supervisors, one staff sergeant, two sergeants, three constables, and a civilian research and policy advisor, research assistant, planning and policy advisor, four planning analysts and an audit assistant. The responsibilities of the PRA include policy development and analysis, program evaluation, strategic planning and research to support the long and short term goals of the BCPP.

In addition to keeping the Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable informed on trends within the province relating to crime and policing, Crime Audit issues notices to divisional commanders throughout the constabulary, informing them when certain types of offences are on the rise, with instructions on procedures to reduce them. This is carried out through the Control Strategy policy, which prioritises cases of such offences to be dealt with as a matter of urgency for certain periods of time over other types of cases.

The Planning, Research and Audit Section has its office at the BCPP headquarters in New Westminster, adjacent to the offices of the Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable.