G20 Fallout: The Cops Screwed Up. Bigtime.

[deathpixie]

Originally posted by suitablyemoname at G20 Fallout: The Cops Screwed Up. Bigtime.

The National Post is carrying a summary of the Office of the Independent Police Review's report on policing at the Toronto G20, and it's a doozy:

Police violated civil rights, detained people illegally, and used excessive force during the G20 summit two years ago, a new report concludes.

The report by Ontario’s independent police watchdog also blasts the temporary detention centre that Toronto police set up for its poor planning, design and operation that saw people detained illegally.

[...]

“Some police officers ignored basic rights citizens have under the Charter and overstepped their authority when they stopped and searched people arbitrarily and without legal justification”

[...]

Even officers in place thought the situation untenable, with one describing the incident commander as “maniacal,” the report says.

“Where are they going to give them a chance to disperse?” one officer asked.

“They aren’t, that’s the problem,” another replied.

“Well, that’s stupid.”

In regard to the temporary detention centre, the report criticizes senior officers for failing to take adequate steps to address problems.

Among complaints were overcrowding, lack of food and water or access to lawyers, the use of flex cuffs and strip searches. Detainees had to use toilets in full view of others and many were held illegally.

Because of shoddy paperwork, it is impossible to state accurately the number of people who were arrested over the course of the summit weekend, the report says.

[...]

In all, the report slams Toronto police, who had the lead in keeping order outside the summit security zone and were responsible for the detention centre, for poor planning and serious gaps in communications.

The incident command centre, set up for overall police control, had “no idea” how many officers were working.

Police often failed to give crowds proper directions to disperse, leading to confrontations and increased tensions.

It also faults the incident commander for referring to the crowds at one point as “marauding terrorists,” creating the impression that criminals were on the loose.

Comments

[kaffy_r]

This makes me so sad and angry to read, as a an ex-pat Canadian. (Living in Chicago and just went through the NATO weekend; there was a lot wrong with the way our mayor handled the rights of protesters and demonstrators but nothing like the G20 cock-up.)