Police Oversight and the Bolstering of Public Trust Canadian Delegation to MISPA III November 2011 RDIMS

1 Why Oversight is Important ● Police oversight is an integral part of policing that help enhance police effectiveness and build public trust in law enforcement ● This public trust is critical. Without it: ­ It is more difficult for police to maintain public order ­ Citizens are less forthcoming with the cooperation and information police need to investigate and solve crimes ­ Police work in general is impeded and, therefore, less effective

2 Understanding Oversight ● Oversight is the systematic review of police conduct to ensure that it is ethical and respects basic civilian rights ● There is no single model of police oversight ● Police institutions vary in their structure; oversight regimes vary accordingly ● Different forms of oversight include internal police mechanisms, external (civilian) mechanisms, complaints-response bodies, ombuds offices, other ● What is common to all systems is the purpose: ensuring effective policing, securing public trust

3 Police Oversight in Canada ● Canada has federal, provincial, and municipal police forces ● There are three key means of assuring the accountability of all Canadian police forces: ­ The review of public complaints (external) ­ The investigation of professional standards violations (internal) ­ Criminal investigations of police involved in serious incidents (increasingly external)

4 Police Oversight in Canada: RCMP example ● The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is Canada’s federal police force and the largest police force in the country ● It provides policing services (under contract) to eight of 10 Canadian provinces, all three territories, and approximately 200 municipalities/communities ● RCMP officers are responsible and accountable for all of their actions executed while dealing with the public and can be subjected to a review of these actions

5 Police Oversight in Canada: RCMP example, con’t ● The Canadian oversight mechanism for the RCMP is the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (CPC) ­ Federal, independent, civilian agency (not part of RCMP) ­ Reviews public complaints when complainants not satisfied with RCMP handling of a complaint ­ Can initiate complaints, carry out investigations or hold hearings on RCMP conduct ­ Reports on findings and makes recommendations to the Minister of Public Safety, RCMP Commissioner

6 Planned Improvements to Police Oversight in Canada ● Canada plans to strengthen the RCMP complaints regime. New legislation will create a strengthened body that will: ­ Have enhanced access to RCMP information ­ Have greater investigative powers ­ Give complainants a larger voice in disciplinary proceedings ­ Require RCMP to refer serious incident investigations to a civilian investigative body or another police service, whenever possible ● Key anticipated returns: increased transparency and accountability of RCMP, increased public trust in RCMP

7 Research on Police Oversight ● Canada is not alone in seeking improvements to oversight ● Research we commissioned on a sample of 17 countries across the hemisphere shows the importance we all attach to oversight initiatives ● Full report is titled Policing the Police: Formal and Informal Police Oversight Mechanisms in the Americas by Stephen Randall and Juliana Ramirez ● Hard copies of report highlights are available (English, French, Spanish)

8 Research Conclusions on Good Practice ● Key conclusion: a good approach comprises formal mechanisms plus supporting reforms and practices ● Formal mechanisms: ­ Maintain both internal (police) and external (independent) oversight mechanisms ● Supporting reforms and practices: ­ Provide vision, training for police leadership ­ Involve local police officials in reform process ­ Involve community in reforms/Community Policing

9 Research Conclusions on Measuring Success ● Measures of oversight mechanism success: ­ Percentage of complaints resolved in timely fashion and to complainants’ satisfaction ­ Community engagement in the mechanism ­ Recommendations are implemented ­ Oversight functions are independent and adequately resourced ­ Improved public trust in the police

10 Conclusion ● All countries can improve their oversight mechanisms and enjoy enhanced public trust in law enforcement ● Canadian academic research on “Policing the Police” is offered for consideration, discussion ● We look forward to hearing others’ thoughts on good practice in this area

11 Links ● Policing the Police: Formal and Informal Police Oversight Mechanisms in the Americas (full report in English) ­ ● Commission for Public Complaints Against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police ­

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