One-Party Consent Intercepts to Prevent Bodily Harm

This page was last substantively updated or reviewed January 2015. (Rev. # 93869)

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General Principles

Under s. 184.1 a peace officer may do a one-party consent intercept a private communication without judicial authorization. This is sometimes referred to as a "safety pack". The relevant provision states:

Interception to prevent bodily harm

184.1 (1) An agent of the state may intercept, by means of any electro-magnetic, acoustic, mechanical or other device, a private communication if

(a) either the originator of the private communication or the person intended by the originator to receive it has consented to the interception;

(b) the agent of the state believes on reasonable grounds that there is a risk of bodily harm to the person who consented to the interception; and

(c) the purpose of the interception is to prevent the bodily harm.

Admissibility of intercepted communication

(2) The contents of a private communication that is obtained from an interception pursuant to subsection (1) [interception to prevent bodily harm – offence] are inadmissible as evidence except for the purposes of proceedings in which actual, attempted or threatened bodily harm is alleged, including proceedings in respect of an application for an authorization under this Part or in respect of a search warrant or a warrant for the arrest of any person.
[omitted (3) and (4)]
1993, c. 40, s. 4.
[annotation(s) added]

– CCC (CanLII), (DOJ)

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This requires that:

1. A participant is is acting as an "agent of the state";
2. A consent of one or more of the parties to the interception;
3. the agent reasonably believes there is a risk of bodily harm to the consenting party;
4. the purpose of the interception is to prevent bodily harm (such as to an undercover peace officer making a drug buy).

Wiretaps under 184.2 do not require the affiant to establish "investigative necessity" for the wiretap.

Definition of "agent of the state"

see Wiretaps#Misc_Wiretap_Terms (184.1(4)).

Use of Record

Should the wiretap not intercept any relevant communications, the recording must be destroyed "as soon as practicable".

184.1
[omitted (1) and (2)]

Destruction of recordings and transcripts

(3) The agent of the state who intercepts a private communication pursuant to subsection (1) [interception to prevent bodily harm – offence] shall, as soon as is practicable in the circumstances, destroy any recording of the private communication that is obtained from an interception pursuant to subsection (1) [interception to prevent bodily harm – offence], any full or partial transcript of the recording and any notes made by that agent of the private communication if nothing in the private communication suggests that bodily harm, attempted bodily harm or threatened bodily harm has occurred or is likely to occur.
[omitted (4)]
1993, c. 40, s. 4.
[annotation(s) added]

– CCC (CanLII), (DOJ)

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