MEDIA RELEASE
February 23, 2015
Legislative Assembly – Province of British Columbia
VICTORIA –– The all-party Special Committee to Review the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) released its report today.
The report contains recommendations regarding the administration and general operations of the IIO as well as regarding the chief civilian director’s progress toward the civilianization of the IIO. The report also contains the results of the committee’s public consultations with stakeholders and citizens between June and October 2014.
Expressing concern about recent reports of human resources and operational challenges at the IIO and the need for urgent and decisive measures, the committee recommended that the Ministry of Justice continue to review the IIO’s human resources practices, and report publicly on actions taken to address the IIO’s human resources issues. The report includes a recommendation relating to the public disclosure of the reports of civilian monitors and that the provincial government implement the police use of body-worn cameras. Given the importance of civilian oversight of serious police incidents, the committee also proposed that the Police Act be amended to require a comprehensive statutory review of the IIO by a special committee of the Legislative Assembly at least once every six years.
“The committee’s consultations with stakeholders and individual British Columbians supported the principle of independent, civilian-led oversight in investigating serious police incidents,” said committee chair Mike Morris. “The consultations also provided important input into our recommendations to enhance the IIO’s administration and operations.”
“We would like to thank the many individuals and organizations that contributed to the committee’s work,” added deputy chair Spencer Chandra Herbert. “The committee looks forward to the implementation of its recommendations, and believes they will enhance civilian oversight of police services in B.C. to the benefit of all British Columbians.”
The committee’s report is available at:
https://www.leg.bc.ca/parliamentary-business/committees/40thparliament-4thsession-iio/
The Special Committee to Review the Independent Investigations Office is an all-party committee of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The committee members are:
Mike Morris, MLA Prince George-Mackenzie (chair);
Spencer Chandra Herbert, MLA Vancouver-West End (deputy chair);
Dr. Doug Bing, MLA Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows;
Scott Fraser, MLA Alberni-Pacific Rim;
Wm. Scott Hamilton, MLA Delta North;
Dr. Darryl Plecas, MLA Abbotsford South;
Jane Jae Kyung Shin, MLA Burnaby-Lougheed;
Jackie Tegart, MLA Fraser-Nicola.
For further information:
Susan Sourial
Committee Clerk
Room 224, Parliament Buildings
Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4
Telephone: 250 356-2933 (collect)
Toll-free: 1-877-428-8337
Fax: 250 356-8172
E-mail:
iiocommittee@leg.bc.ca
