Latest news with #policeaccountability
CBC
a day ago
- Politics
- CBC
No public trust without police oversight board, says First Voice
Public confidence in police accountability is down, especially among Indigenous people in Newfoundland and Labrador. That's one of the takeaways from a new survey on policing services in the province, released last month by the Police Transformation Working Group. According to the report, Indigenous respondents said they weren't confident police would properly respond to, and investigate, reports of crime. While many of the civilians from all demographics who responded to the survey said they didn't know how to file a complaint against a police officer, Indigenous respondents have even less confidence in their complaint being treated fairly. The results don't surprise First Voice spokesperson Justin Campbell. The organization's 2022 poll found similarly low levels of trust in police to conduct fair investigations into misconduct complaints against police officers. "We think that this goes beyond just an Indigenous issue, even though Indigenous people tend to be much more affected by it," Campbell told The St. John's Morning Show. The solution, he said, is to create a civilian-led police oversight board, independent from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. Campbell believes that could solve many of the issues brought up in the survey. Half of survey respondents said they don't believe police are doing an effective job of keeping communities safe. Only 44 per cent said they're confident police respond to, and investigate, reports of crime, and 43 per cent said they don't know how to file a complaint against a police officer. Most Indigenous respondents, women, and respondents with an income under $50,000 agreed. "Without an ongoing process to gather meaningful community input ... trust in police cannot be rebuilt and confidence in their ability to serve the public cannot be restored," Campbell said. In 2022, First Voice proposed 26 recommendations for the RNC to improve services and boost public trust. Campbell says only six of those recommendations have been met through recently passed legislation. The latest: a Law Enforcement Commission Act which was passed by government, but has yet to be implemented. "This act is very encouraging. It's the right direction. I think there's still more ways to go," he said. First Voice has also been working with the RNC to form an Indigenous Advisory Committee. In June 2023, the formation of the committee was announced. But Campbell says they have yet to actually meet. "Very disappointed in that," Campbell said. "Again, this shows why there is such a significant need for civilian-led oversight of police, because we can only do so much on our own side."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Family of man shot and killed by Orange County deputy asking for answers, accountability
The Brief An Orange County deputy shot and killed Tyrone Bartley during a drug raid at a Pine Hills residence, raising questions and concerns from Bartley's family and community groups. The incident matters as it highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement and communities, with calls for accountability and transparency in police actions. The sheriff's office plans to release bodycam footage of the shooting next week, which may provide further insights into the incident. ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - The family of a man that was shot and killed by an Orange County deputy is speaking out, asking for answers and accountability from law enforcement. What we know The family of 32-year-old Tyrone Bartley and members of "Orlando Against Police Crimes" held a news conference on Saturday at the shooting site in Pine Hills, demanding the "full story" and accountability from the sheriff's office. The full circumstances leading to the shooting remain unclear, and Bartley's family is seeking answers and accountability from law enforcement. The backstory Bartley was shot and killed by an Orange County deputy earlier this month during a drug raid at a house in Pine Hills. Deputies were executing a search warrant when they reportedly saw Bartley reach behind a door, where a rifle was found. The sheriff's office had visited the address two weeks prior for a domestic violence call, during which drugs and a stolen gun were discovered. The deputy who fired the gun is on paid leave. What they're saying Brittani Jackson, Bartley's girlfriend, expressed her grief and called for the truth, stating: "Please take accountability. Instead of painting this amazing man out to be the bad guy, just tell the truth and admit you made a mistake." Sheriff John Mina emphasized the dangers deputies face, stating: "This case just illustrates how dangerous this is for our deputies going into a home where we know loaded guns have already been recovered." What's next Currently, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting and will turn over the findings to the State Attorney's Office for review. The investigation will then go to the sheriff's office for an internal review. The sheriff's office plans to release bodycam video of the shooting next week, which may provide further clarity on the incident and the actions of the deputies involved. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the Orange County Sheriff's Office and the family of Tyrone Bartley. FOX 35's Matt Trezza also attended a news conference held by the family at the shooting site on May 31.
Zawya
28-05-2025
- General
- Zawya
Police Committee Demands Section 34 Inquiries Into Saps Members Facing Serious Criminal Charges to Ensure a Quality Workforce to Fight Crime
The Portfolio Committee on Police has emphasised that the South African Police Service (SAPS) must urgently institute Section 34 inquiries as per the South African Police Act against officers charged with serious criminal offences. The committee remains of the view that to fight crime effectively, police officers accused of serious crimes must be removed to ensure that only committed officers stay in service. The committee met with the Ministry of Police and senior management of SAPS to discuss the recently released quarter 4 crime statistics. The committee raised alarm that a growing number of SAPS officers who remain in active service despite being formally charged with serious criminal offences, including rape, attempted murder, drug trafficking and conduct linked to organised crime. 'We cannot accept a situation where the police service turns a blind eye to such serious allegations, especially where the charges suggest direct involvement in violent or organised criminal activity,' said Mr Ian Cameron, the Chairperson of the committee. In today's committee engagement, SAPS leadership was questioned about multiple specific cases in which officers, some out on bail and facing grave charges, are not only still reporting for duty, but in some instances still hold leadership positions or operate in frontline roles. These cases include: A police constable who is out on bail for rape, is still serving at a local station. An acting station commander who is currently facing charges of attempted murder and torture. A member who was caught selling police dockets, later arrested again for drunk driving while on suspension, is now back at work. A court orderly who was found with over 900 Mandrax tablets, still deployed at a central Cape Town station. A detective, out on bail for dealing drugs, is also reportedly back on duty. This is concerning, and Section 34 enquiries would determine whether an officer is fit to remain in office. In the context of the need to restore police credibility and reestablish the necessary collaboration between police and communities, it is essential to ensure that every officer is fit and proper to hold the position of authority and that effective consequence management is engraved in the fabric of the SAPS. Meanwhile, the committee has resolved that it is necessary to extend oversight to the station level. In line with this, the committee unanimously agreed to schedule a special meeting with the Fleurhof station commander following allegations that the police did not act fast enough in the case of the missing 11-year-old boy, Jayden-Lee Meek. 'Crime happens at police station level, and while national leadership of the SAPS at the national and provincial level must be held accountable, so are officers at station level. It is in this context that we will invite the station commander to outline the circumstances around the incident,' Mr Cameron emphasised. The committee remains concerned by the disparity between arrests made and convictions of criminals arrested during police operations. A criminal justice system that is unable to convict criminals is not effective and undermines the mandate of the system. Also, the committee remains concerned that there is no effective plan to tackle high gang-related crimes. 'There is no question that gang violence is a major contributor to the high murder rates in the country. An effective response plan must be developed and urgently implemented to combat gang-related violence,' Mr Cameron said. Also, the committee has called for collaboration between SAPS and sister departments and government agencies such as the South African Revenue Service to counter organised crime. The committee remains of the view that closer collaborations are critical in the overall fight against crime. Similarly, the committee remains concerned about the length of time SAPS vehicles spend undergoing repair and maintenance after a breakdown. The committee has always highlighted that the availability of tools of trade is critical in combating crime. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
CBC
28-05-2025
- General
- CBC
N.L. residents feel less safe than they did five years ago, public survey on police suggests
N.L. residents feel less safe than they did five years ago, public survey on police suggests News Duration 1:15 The results of a public survey on police services in Newfoundland and Labrador suggests that over 70 per cent of respondents say they feel less safe than they did five years ago. It also suggests a drop in perceived effectiveness of the police, and a desire for greater accountability. The CBC's Julia Israel breaks down the data.
Globe and Mail
27-05-2025
- General
- Globe and Mail
New Montreal street check policy includes reason for stop, right to end stop, police chief says
Montreal's police chief has asked his officers to change how they behave when they stop people on the street, the latest effort by the police to frame street checks amid calls to have them banned altogether. 'We made a commitment to update the policy to better define the practice and improve communication with citizens,' police chief Fady Dagher told reporters during a news conference on Monday, adding the new policy on street checks takes effect immediately. The policy would require officers to inform citizens why they are being stopped and to make it clear they're free to leave at any time. 'We want to make sure that you don't have any perception that you're being detained,' Dagher said. Police officers will have to document the details of the stop, and that data will be analyzed by authorities, Dagher said. That part will go into effect in the fall once computer upgrades are complete. Without the data, Dagher said they would have a hard time knowing how officers are behaving in the field. The police force said it is hopeful the measures will also improve communication between officers and the person stopped. It said street checks remain an important tool for police. Montreal police chief rejects street check moratorium despite racial profiling data Some advocacy groups like the Black Coalition of Quebec and Ligue des droits et libertés, a local human rights organization, say the new policy comes after years of complaints and doesn't go far enough. The league described the latest policy change as a 'half-measure' that came about because of heavy pressure from groups, but adds 'there is a world of difference between a policy on paper and the reality on the street.' Lynda Khelil, a spokeswoman for the league, said police should go further and explicitly tell those who are stopped 'that they have no legal obligation to identify themselves and answer questions.' The league said more than 100 community organizations signed a letter in 2023 calling for a ban on street checks instead of trying to regulate them. Fo Niemi, director of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations, said there's a delicate balance between valid grounds for a stop – reasonable suspicions – with the right to protect ordinary and innocent citizens from being stopped without legal justifications. 'The success of this policy will depend on what kind of clear, if not mandatory, training to all officers about how to better communicate with ordinary people, people of different backgrounds, different capacity of understanding, even language barriers,' Niemi said 'And communicate in such a way that (the interaction) will not result in something worse, and that's always a challenge.' The Black Coalition of Quebec said the new policy was a step in the right direction, but isn't the same as a law or a rule that has a 'normative and coercive value.' It called for a provincial law that would apply to all police forces outlawing systemic racism – an entrenched practice that François Legault's Coalition Avenir Québec has refused to acknowledge. Authorities had pledged to address public concerns about street checks after an independent 2019 report revealed Indigenous people, Black Montrealers and people of Arab descent were more likely to be randomly stopped by police. In 2020, Montreal police developed a new policy that banned street checks 'based on discriminatory criteria' and required officers to explain their reasons for stopping citizens, among other measures aimed at reducing racial disparities. The province followed with guidelines that mirrored Montreal police policy: that the practice of stopping citizens to collect and record their personal information shouldn't be random, unfounded or discriminatory. Black and Arab people overrepresented in Laval police stops, data show, reflecting broader Quebec pattern The provincial guidelines say that while stops are essential for public safety, they must be based on observable facts or information that gives police reasonable grounds to intervene. A report released in 2023, using data from 2021, showed little had changed: Indigenous Montrealers were six times more likely to be stopped than were white people in the city. The report called for a moratorium on street checks, which Dagher refused, saying any such action would be symbolic. The data also demonstrated that Black people were three-and-a-half times more likely to be stopped than white people and Arabs were two-and-a-half times more likely to be stopped. The new policy change will be presented to the city's public security commission on Wednesday night, when citizens will have a chance to raise questions.
