2009:01 ENSURING POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH EFFECTIVE CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT
Whereas 1 the majority of Canadians strongly support and trust their police in the difficult task of maintaining law and order; and
Whereas 2 according to the Canadian Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement, some form of civilian oversight of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the First Nations Police and the Military Police is practiced in most provinces and territories with varying degrees of success; and
Whereas 3 civilian oversight is to be based on:
a. the stated goal of building a positive relationship between the public and the police;
b. an accessible and transparent complaints process, conscientiously monitored by independent and impartial civilian agencies;
c. commissions and provincial agencies responsible for civilian oversight of investigations into alleged police misconduct that are mandated to ensure complaint investigations are thorough, fair and balanced to the complainant and the respondent; and
Whereas 4 there have been reports which indicate on-going serious incidents of:
a. police action that threatens the lives of the public, especially Aboriginals and homeless people, and has, in a number of cases resulted in death, and
b. apparent police inaction in response to the deaths of women, a large proportion of whom were drug addicts, prostitutes or Aboriginal, even though all persons are considered equal before the law; and
Whereas 5 there are a number of cases where there have been reports of the serious failure of the civilian oversight function; therefore be it
Resolved 1 that the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as policy that federal civilian oversight organizations ensure that all people, irrespective of cultural background, race and sexual orientation receive equal treatment from the police; and be it further
Resolved 2 that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to:
a. establish a dedicated, fully independent, civilian complaints oversight authority to investigate serious civilian injury or death resulting from police action or inaction;
b. establish effective civilian oversight provisions that ensure that the law is fully followed in police treatment of all people, irrespective of cultural background, race and sexual orientation;
c. ensure that in cases of serious injury or death to civilians, police actions are fully investigated by a dedicated, fully independent, civilian complaints oversight authority.
Resolved 3 that the National Council of Women of Canada request the Provincial Councils of Women and Local Councils of Women to urge their respective Provincial and Municipal Governments to set up similar civilian oversight organizations.