Police Act Report
The Provincial Police Act is being reviewed for the first time in nearly 80 years. The 2007 report on the Racialized Communities and Police Services Project by the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, and the 1991 report of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba have pointed to systemic problems in police accountability in this province. The new Act will lay out how municipal police boards, a provincial police commission, and an independent investigations unit will be structured. Winnipeg Copwatch’s recommendations include:
- Municipal police boards and the provincial police commission should be democratically elected
- The police commission should not include police or former police due to conflict of interest
- The police commission should provide free supports to people filing a complaint against the police
- Complaints should not be shown to the police until after the police have been questioned, and police should be separated before questioning to prevent collusion
- Non-criminal charges against the police should not be investigated by a police service
- The police boards should be empowered to hire and dismiss the police chief
Read the full Report on Winnipeg Copwatch’s Recommendations on the Provincial Police Act Review: winnipeg-copwatch-police-act-report.pdf