"Police have a tough job, but they can still get the bad guys without breaching the Charter. This is especially the case when officers deliberately violated the Charter or were negligent or where courts have flagged systemic issues."
"The research looked at 627 Ontario court rulings between Jan. 1, 2015 and May 31, 2025, in which police officers were found to have violated Charter rights more than 1,000 times. The report said in 70 per cent of cases, evidence was excluded, proceedings were stayed or a sentence was reduced."
"To enhance public trust, legitimacy and safety, there must be monitoring, accountability, transparency and independent oversight."
A report analyzing over 600 Ontario court rulings from 2015 to 2025 found police officers violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms more than 1,000 times across urban areas including Toronto, Ottawa, and Peel, York, and Durham regions. In 70 percent of these cases, evidence was excluded, proceedings were stayed, or sentences were reduced, allowing accused individuals to avoid conviction. Report co-author Sunil Gurmukh emphasized that while police face challenging work, Charter violations—whether deliberate, negligent, or systemic—undermine public trust and harm victims. Researchers argue that police forces, oversight agencies, and governments must implement enhanced monitoring, accountability, transparency, and independent oversight to restore legitimacy and public confidence in the justice system.
#police-charter-violations #criminal-justice-system #evidence-exclusion #public-accountability #ontario-courts
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