Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

shockedcanadian

(751 posts)
Sun Jun 22, 2014, 08:47 AM Jun 2014

‘No judgment, no discretion’: Police records that ruin innocent lives



http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/06/22/no_judgment_no_discretion_police_records_that_ruin_innocent_lives.html



Mukherjee calls that Toronto Police position “very rigid.”

“I’m not justifying it, but we have not been able to break that log jam. I’m hoping the current debate will result in some re-thinking so we can move the conversation forward.”

In the meantime, Andrew says livelihoods are being lost to police record sharing without cause.

“I’m learning how many good people this is affecting that don’t deserve this,” he says. “I feel like I can’t shower enough to get this off of me. It’s obscene.”
2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
‘No judgment, no discretion’: Police records that ruin innocent lives (Original Post) shockedcanadian Jun 2014 OP
Glad that the Star is still on this story. Joe Shlabotnik Jun 2014 #1
Without oversight Canada falls into the "other" category shockedcanadian Jun 2014 #2

Joe Shlabotnik

(5,604 posts)
1. Glad that the Star is still on this story.
Sun Jun 22, 2014, 12:25 PM
Jun 2014

But If left up to the police boards to self-reform the system, its never going to happen. The government has to step in and pass some privacy laws. Unfortunately, no party wants to stick their neck out and get labeled as 'soft on crime' by their opponents.

 

shockedcanadian

(751 posts)
2. Without oversight Canada falls into the "other" category
Mon Jun 23, 2014, 12:17 PM
Jun 2014

Police internal oversight and no accountability (a very small percentage). Police are the judge jury and executioners, frightening revelations to be honest. The very word of an undercover officer is enough to ruin your life. The discretion about how to handle someone is solely their own and the evidence might be extremely shoddy, hypothetical and even vindictive (all which I experienced).

Furthermore, through such loaded infrastructure terms as "integrated _______ units" (security, intelligence, policing etc&quot , there is a great deal of assistance provided from one agency to the next, noone checking out the logistics of how the intel was obtained in the first place, nor the reliability and/or validity of such accusations. A police agency can tell the RCMP or CSIS "this person is a threat" (as that which occurred against me) and they will rely on a very flimsy and narrow methodology to re-confirm this initial assertion, or, just take it at face value. So in effect; rather than someone being investigated at the start of any suspected ideology issues by a more competent and seemingly accurate agency such as CSIS, they will be investigated and labelled by a less competent, more career-driven agency such as an undercover police force.

Not only do police forces rely on their own undercover agents, but they rely on C.I's, or confidential informants which even FURTHER waters down accuracy of information. You see where this is going? A citizen can in effect have his entire life ruined, his mobility rights, his right to education and a career, his right to due process and basic rule of law tenets disregarded at the behest of a "friend" (the CI), who may or may not have their own ass to protect in the case of pending charges for which they offer their services to avoid jailtime as an example. As in my case when I was targetted by undercover police as a teenager in high school, you might have your life ruined by someone with very little life experience (they were only a couple of years older than I was) and simply want to move forward their career and impress their handlers or management.

If I am an ally country; one that relies heavily on real democracy, process and the citizens of other nations supporting the activities that enhance democracy how do I view Canada in this particular objective? If I were, say a British, French or American employee in the Security Apparatus, would I consider Canada an ally to democracy, transparency and citizens freedoms or a suppressor of it? Would I look at Canada's laws and security operations as being in line with my own or against them? Would I view Canada as a legitimate and upstanding member of the fight for freedom and security, or a nation of cowboys who have their own personal agendas?

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Canada»‘No judgment, no discreti...