The B.C. First Nations Justice Council has launched a police accountability unit, a rare Indigenous-led service designed to assist community members affected by police violence, misconduct, or negligence.
Background of the Unit
Initially established as a pilot project in 2024, the unit has already handled 220 files, including cases involving police use of force, potentially illegal arrest and detention, potentially illegal search and seizure, and wellness checks that may have involved misconduct.
Judith Sayers, a director of the B.C. First Nations Justice Council and president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, noted that the unit's caseload grew primarily through word of mouth. She stated, “We haven’t done anything to go out and try and find these cases, so obviously the need is there.”
Current Caseload and Focus
Among the 83 cases currently under review, 33 percent involve municipal police forces, while 67 percent involve the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Sayers emphasized the profound impact of police violence on Indigenous communities, saying, “When one of our community members or our children experiences police violence, we all feel it, and that doesn’t go away. The statistics are there and the pattern of violence and death has been documented time and again. The police accountability unit is a step toward taking police oversight into our own hands on a provincial level.”
The unit provides a safe space where First Nations individuals can be heard, according to Sayers.
Legal Services Offered
The unit's staff lawyers offer a range of legal services, including hearing complaints, providing high-level opinions, and suggesting next steps. They also assist in filing police complaints, pursuing civil actions in court, and filing complaints before bodies such as the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal.
The unit handles cases involving British Columbia's 11 municipal police forces, their members, municipal bylaw officers, and other individuals in law enforcement roles.
Unique Model in Canada
Alexander Kirby, the acting managing lawyer for the unit, explained that the service is not based on any existing model, and he is unaware of any similar program in Canada. Currently, two lawyers work for the unit, but the council plans to hire a third, anticipating increased demand now that the unit has gone public.
The unit is funded by a grant from the B.C. Law Foundation, a nonprofit organization financed by interest earned on lawyers' pooled trust accounts held at B.C. banks and credit unions.
Future Plans
Kirby mentioned that they would like to highlight some cases with the permission of those involved, but none are ready for public disclosure yet. He noted, “These processes take time to come to a conclusion.”
The unit has already filed complaints with all police oversight bodies, including the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP and the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner in B.C., which handles municipal police complaints.
