The provincial criminal justice branch (CJB) is implementing recommendations from the Davies Commission of Inquiry, Attorney General Shirley Bond announced.
The Davies Commission made nine recommendations, all of which will lead to changes or clarifications in CJB’s policies and practices.
On the advice of Commissioners Davies and Braidwood, the ministry is proceeding with the implementation of the Independent Investigations Office (IIO), a civilian-led body that will conduct criminal investigations into deaths or serious harm involving municipal police and RCMP in B.C. and other infringements of provincial and federal acts involving an officer. The team will begin investigations in 2012.
In response to the second recommendation, the criminal justice branch will ensure allegations against police are not assessed or prosecuted by Crown from the region in which the officer is employed.
In addition, the government will ask the chief civilian director of the IIO to review, after three years, the IIO’s experience with reports to Crown counsel.
“I want to thank Commissioner Davies for the important work he and his commission completed in this review,” says Attorney General Shirley Bond. “Commissioner Davies has given us important recommendations that we have taken seriously and are implementing and putting into practice at the earliest opportunity. Davies provided our government with valuable recommendations that will be important in increasing public confidence in objective and impartial charge assessment reviews and prosecutions. It is important to remember that the commissioner found the criminal justice branch acted with integrity and professionalism, because the branch is held to a high standard by the public.”
A March 2009 interim report dealt with the British Columbia Ambulance Service, Vancouver Police Department, BC Coroners Service and Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner.
Visit www.frankpaulinquiry.ca for further details.