Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) annual report provides brief update on systemic investigation into the C-IRG
Dramatic Video Shows Militarized Canadian Police Raid Wet’suwet’en Land Defenders & Journalists (Democracy Now!, November 24, 2021).
The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP has released its Annual Report 2023-2024.
On page 8, the CRCC provides its first formal public communication on the status of the investigation into the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG) since November 23, 2023.
While the systemic investigation was launched almost two years ago on March 9, 2023, there is still no indication of when it will be completed, a report will be made available, and changes will be implemented.
The Annual Report does suggest limits in what might be recommended in that final report. Their examples include: “That the RCMP implement more widely a method, procedure or protocol worthy of emulating.”
PBI-Canada participates in the Abolish C-IRG coalition that stated in March 2023: “Given the nature of the complaints and substantial evidence supporting them, we argue for the suspension of all C-IRG deployment in BC pending investigation and resolution of all complaints currently before the CRCC. The CRCC reviews can take years to complete, and it is irresponsible to have this unit continue operations during that time, enabling the continuation of unlawful use of force, arrests, detentions, and assaults that have sparked such an investigation.”
Systemic Investigations
The CRCC has the authority to conduct reviews of specified RCMP activities to ensure that they comply with legislation, regulation, ministerial direction, or RCMP policies, procedures or guidelines.
The RCMP “E” Division Community Industry Response Group (C-IRG)
This systemic investigation of the C-IRG was initiated in March 2023 and examines the effectiveness of C-IRG’s governance and command structure, as well as assessing whether C-IRG operations were carried out in accordance with legal standards, policy requirements, and leading practices.
More about this systemic investigation is available here.
Status of the Investigation
- While delays in receiving relevant materials persisted throughout 2023, improvements in this regard are notable and the investigation is progressing.
- To date, the CRCC has received and is analysing thousands of documents as well as more than 17,000 videos and images.
What We Heard Report
- The CRCC hired an Indigenous owned law firm to interview individuals and groups who have had interactions with C-IRG.
- Information derived from the interviews will be compiled into a report and may be used to exemplify the CRCC’s findings and inform any recommendations.
Public Complaints about C-IRG
As of March 2024, the CRCC received 573 public complaints related to the RCMP’s “E” Division C-IRG injunction enforcement operations.
Of these public complaints:
- 121 were accepted
- 86 public complaint investigations are complete
- 35 public complaint investigations by the RCMP remain ongoing
- 10 requests for CRCC review have been received
Information derived from the public complaints and any reviews will also inform the CRCC’s systemic investigation.
Systemic investigation recommendations can include:
- That the RCMP implement more widely a method, procedure or protocol worthy of emulating;
- That RCMP policies, procedures, or guidelines be developed, clarified or amended;
- That the RCMP develop, amend or modify training for members.
Excerpt from Annual Report 2023-2024.
0 Comments