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Police Oversight and the Bolstering of Public Trust Canadian Delegation to MISPA III November 2011 RDIMS 517706

Police Oversight and the Bolstering of Public Trust Canadian Delegation to MISPA III November 2011 RDIMS 517706. Why Oversight is Important. Police oversight is an integral part of policing that help enhance police effectiveness and build public trust in law enforcement

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Police Oversight and the Bolstering of Public Trust Canadian Delegation to MISPA III November 2011 RDIMS 517706

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  1. Police Oversight and the Bolstering of Public Trust Canadian Delegation to MISPA IIINovember 2011RDIMS 517706

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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)

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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)

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. Links • Policing the Police: Formal and Informal Police Oversight Mechanisms in the Americas (full report in English) • http://www.cdfai.org • Commission for Public Complaints Against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police • http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/

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