"If these (systemic issues) aren't fixed, more guns, drugs and breathalyzer test results will be tossed from trials, and accused who engage in criminal activity will walk free. Urgent action was needed back then and it's even more badly needed now, we can't afford to wait."
"The most common Charter violations outlined in the report were related to Sections 8 and 10(b), the right to be free from unreasonable search, and the right, on arrest, for a lawyer. Researchers also found instances of racial profiling and officers lying or giving false testimony."
"When courts determine that a defendant's rights were violated, oftentimes Chiefs of Police are not made aware of it. The report put forward a number of recommendations to improve monitoring, accountability, transparency and independent oversight."
A report by Western University and University of Toronto researchers documented over 1,000 Charter violations across 627 cases by police in Toronto, Peel, York, Durham, and Ottawa between 2015 and 2025. The most common violations involved unreasonable searches and denial of legal representation rights. The study also identified racial profiling and false testimony by officers. When courts find rights violations, police chiefs often remain uninformed. The researchers emphasize that without addressing these systemic issues, evidence will continue being excluded from trials and accused individuals will be acquitted. The report recommends enhanced monitoring, accountability, transparency, and independent oversight mechanisms.
#police-accountability #charter-rights-violations #criminal-justice-reform #racial-profiling #law-enforcement-oversight
Read at www.cbc.ca
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