The BC Civil Liberties Association has made startling and, if correct, astounding allegations that Vancouver Police are breaking the law, even after the Police Complaint Commissioner ruled the actions they are taking are improper.
The BCCLA have filed a complaint against Vancouver Police, alleging they conducted illegal RANDOM searches of people’s bags and other property during Fireworks celebrations.
When a witness reportedly asked the police what authority they had for the random searches, they are said to have replied they are allowed to do that under the B.C. Liquor Control Act.
NOT!!!
A previous complaint was filed against FIVE police departments (including one RCMP detachment) on Vancouver Island last year for conducting random searches at Canada Day celebrations. The Police Complaints Commissioner ruled, according to the BCCLA, such searches are UNLAWFUL.
Just asking random people for permission to search their bags or belongings, without ANY lawful reason/evidence to suspect an illegal act goes well beyond the legal authority of police.
Maybe not in Iran, China or Russia … but, so far, in Canada … Fireworks or Olympics be damned!
This NOT a police state: we should not live under the assumption that police can just ask to search our cars, our persons or our bags, just to make sure we aren’t carrying anything illegal.
What really worries me is Vancouver Police must be well aware of the Police Complaint Commissioner’s ruling … yet they are still alleged to be carrying out those same illegal searches.
Preparing for the Olympics? Practicing ignoring the laws of the province and the Charter rights of most of us just to make it easier for them to manage Vancouver 2010 ?
No event, no games, no celebration can be allowed to trample our rights as free Canadians. Did the police learn anything from the APEC fiasco?
Yet, this is exactly the spectre I raised recently in my blog “RCMP Fiddles … While Okanagan Burns” questionning how authorities are prepared to deal with legitimate protestors during the Olympics.
If police are willing to ignore the laws of the land at a fireworks display, we can only imagine what rights they might be prepared to illegally set aside for the Olympics. And, as I wrote before, perhaps even in the full knowledge that two or three years down the road their actions may be ruled improper and illegal … big deal!!!
I am well aware of the challenges police face from the nutbars, drunks, thieves and profesional anarchists who threaten our society, especially during large gatherings, where crowds and the media gather.
But they do neither us nor themselves a public service when they ignore the laws, or run over them.
Harv Oberfeld
11 responses so far ↓
1 Crankypants // Jul 30, 2009 at 7:23 am
Well said Harvey. Maybe if the police would spend more time going after those who break the law and leave those that are not alone, they would begin to once again earn the respect of the people. To harass innocent people does nothing to enhance their image nor gain the respect of the people they have sworn to serve.
It makes no sense to attempt to force those that want to protest to have to limit these protestations to specified areas. The only ones that will comply will be the law abiding types. The wingnuts and their ilk will do their thing wherever they wish. If these goofs break the law then the police should deal with them in the appropriate manner.
So far it seems that those that are involved in security for the games are targeting dissidents of said games with intimidation being their weapon of choice. I’m sure those that are planning to break the law are fessing up as I type. They are just wasting their time and many tax dollars in the process.
In the end they will have to deal with what occurs at the time it occurs. My only hope is that they put as much effort in preparing for fanatics that may wish to inflict lethal harm. Canada is definitely on the radar of groups such as Al Quaida and I’m pretty sure they can inflict much more damage than a few protesters.
In case big brother is monitoring this site and able to identify me, I categorily state that I never did support us getting the games but now that they are inevitable, I hope they go on without a hitch. Maybe this will keep me off the interview/inquisition list.
Keep up the good work Harvey.
(Response: You are absolutely correct. I have no problem with the police arresting those who deliberately break the law to hinder, harrass or interfere with the games or traffic or anything else. But they must not be allowed to treat everyone as criminals unless proven otherwise. h.o.)
2 nate from salt lake // Jul 30, 2009 at 7:50 am
oddly enough when I attended Expo 86 the same crap was happening..
could you all please figure this out. before the winter Olympics?
3 DMJ // Jul 30, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Where are we living? In Canada where you’re innocent until proven guilty, or Nazi Germany with the Gestapo, using an iron fist declaring who is guilty or innocent?
Sad to say, the Olympics, will show how undemocratic Canada and BC is!
4 Leah // Jul 30, 2009 at 5:47 pm
The one thing that concerns me is their security preparations…camera’s, microphones etc. Are they going to be removed once the games are over, or will they continue to use them to harrass the population in general?
I’d be willing to bet they don’t – the Campbell government is going to find them far too handy to return to the “freedom?” we had prior to 2010.
And I strongly doubt the police will change their tactics much either. The games have opened doors to a future the government only dreamed of in a free society, and I can’t imagine them being closed without a supreme court fight.
5 Gary L // Jul 30, 2009 at 8:42 pm
“The wingnuts and their ilk will do their thing wherever they wish”.
And therein lies the problem.
Cheers
6 Norman Farrell // Jul 30, 2009 at 9:51 pm
This is symptomatic of a police force willing to disregard law, truth and justice. Our complaints should be directed not at the officers on the street but against those appointed as citizens responsible for oversight. In addition to the Mayor, the Vancouver Police Board has this membership:
T E (TERRY) LA LIBERTÉ
JASON McLEAN
PATTI MARFLEET
SHERYL WILLIAMSON-HARMS
GLENN WONG
I wonder about three lawyers and two marketing types as suitable. CYA and puffery are not the specialties I prefer for an oversight board.
7 Norman Farrell // Jul 30, 2009 at 9:53 pm
This is contact information if anyone cares to forward opinions:
Vancouver Police Board
c/o 312 Main Street
Vancouver BC V6A 2T2
Tel: 604-717-3170
Fax: 604-257-3878
e-mail: office@vancouverpoliceboard.ca
8 genuine // Jul 30, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Boy it seems like someones lurking, just below the surface!,and when someone lurks ,it ain’t good!
9 Norman Farrell // Jul 30, 2009 at 10:47 pm
I wonder how many multi-shot Tasers are included in the almost $1 billion budget for the 2010 Winter Games.
A demo here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7uTLLF34_g
Note young, healthy, sober subjects are shot in the lower back, well away from the heart, and two helpers gently lower them to the softly upholstered floor pad.
10 NB DUDE // Aug 1, 2009 at 3:04 am
I posted this at another site in response to the Henry Louis Gates Jr., Sgt. Crowley affair down south but it applies here as well
I kind of like Gore Vidal’s take on the situation (Cut and paste)
http://www.truthdig.com/report/i…t_police_state/
11 NB DUDE // Aug 1, 2009 at 3:10 am
Sorry about that above post it should have went here http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20090728_america_the_great_police_state/
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