What started as a pilot project in 2024 to help Indigenous people affected by police violence and negligence in B.C. has now come to fruition. On Wednesday, June 10, BC First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC) launched a Police Accountability Unit (PAU) in response to “the disproportionate level of harmful police interactions experienced by Indigenous communities, the unit supports individuals navigating the complex system of police oversight processes through free legal supports,” reads a press release. Since the pilot project began nearly two years ago (Aug.
2024), the PAU has taken on 220 files and has become an Indigenous-led accountability service. Now, it’s an official BCFNJC service. “When one of our community members or our children experiences police violence, we all feel it, and that doesn’t go away,” said Cloy-e-iis (Dr. Judith Sayers), BCFNJC director and representative for policing and oversight, and president of Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. “The statistics are there, and the pattern of violence and death has been documented time and again. The PAU is a step towards taking
police oversight into our own hands on a provincial level. I am proud to share this service with First Nations and Indigenous communities across B.C. who have been asking for somewhere to turn, where they know they will be heard.” Officially launched the PAU advances Strategy 7: Stronger Oversight and Accountability of the BC First Nations Justice Strategy, as well as aligning with BCFNJC’s mandate to improve justice for Indigenous people across the province. The PAU can investigate cases related to municipal police forces, RCMP
members, bylaw officers, and individuals in other law enforcement roles. In addition, the unit’s staff lawyers will provide legal services, including advice, filing police complaints, and pursuing civil action and complaints. The PAU is an independent program funded by the Law Foundation of BC.
BC First Nations Justice Council, Police Accountability Unit, PAU, Indigenous policing, police oversight, police violence, RCMP, municipal police, bylaw officers, Law Foundation of BC, Cloy-e-iis (Dr. Judith Sayers), Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council
So basically they made a unit to complain about cops? I’m sure that’ll fix everything.
220 files in like a year and change… that sounds like a lot but also what else are people supposed to do when police mess up. Hope it’s actually independent though, because “accountability” usually turns into paperwork.
Wait, does this mean the RCMP are now being sued by default? Like if someone complains they automatically investigate? I may be mixing it up with something else I saw on TikTok but it sounds like police are just gonna get in trouble more.
Free legal support is great, but I don’t get how you “take oversight into your own hands” when it’s still supposed to be provincial and based on files and outcomes. Also municipal police vs RCMP… like who even oversees bylaw officers half the time? If the pattern is as bad as they say, why did it take until 2024/2025 to start really looking?