The top cop in Kamloops says the RCMP detachment is working on a plan of action after the public use of drugs was recriminalized across the province.

As part of new guidelines issued last Friday, police in B.C. will now be able to compel a person to leave a public place, seize drugs if necessary, or arrest the person if required.

Superintendent Jeff Pelley was asked about the changes during Tuesday’s council meeting.

“Our approach is continuing to evolve here,” Pelley said. “Obviously we have authority now to seize the drugs but not necessarily charge the individual but there are a set of circumstances with respect to that in public areas.”

“Strategies are being implemented and charge approval should be sought if there are additional extenuating circumstances or related to other crimes, and we are continuing to strategize with respect to how we are going to address that as we move forward.”

The reversal in provincial policy comes a little over a year into B.C.’s three year decimalization pilot. It comes as the province’s efforts to recriminalize open drug us were stalled by the courts.

The City of Kamloops was one of several municipalities calling for changes to pilot. City Council went so far as passing bylaw that outlawed public drug use, though it cannot be implemented without signoff from the provincial government, which is unlikely.

“We’re looking at a strategy to roll out with respect to how we’re going to enforce that, or how we are going to address the open use throughout our corridor, and we’re working closely with our district and our division on those needs locally, and how that is going to happen,” Pelley added.

“We’re still in its infancy and we certainly going to get in front of it.”