[Newsbot]

Title: Ontario: Crown must now report lying police officers
Category: Law & Order
Posted By: BeaverFever
Date: 2012-10-26 05:36:21
Canadian

[BeaverFever]

Sounds like a toothless tiger, but maybe the simple fact that someone is 'taking names' will help curb the problem.

[EyeBrock]

Good. Name them and charge them. Good riddance.

[BeaverFever]

I think the relationship between the Crown Attorney and law enforcement is too close for this to be effective. There should be a special investigations office within the Crown Attorney's office to deal exclusively with these types of matters.

[andyt]

The crown attorneys want the cops to lie to help make their case. This won't help. The fact cops were not disciplined after a case fell apart due to their lies shows that nobody really cares about this.

[Toastmaker]

Don't the major Canadian police agencies have Internal Affairs units, or some call them Professional Standards agencies ? I have to suspect they do and the real responsibility for internal discipline at that level would rest with them - with referrals to criminal prosecution when appropriate.

I worked IA for two years and strongly believe in their mission. False Hollywood portrayals aside, most professional-minded officers support strong IA units.

[andyt]

well again, if a case collapses due to cops' lying on the stand, and there are no consequences, IA isn't doing their job. I harbor the suspicion that among cops there's a degree of being OK with lying if you know the scumbag is guilty. And I harbor a suspicion that on this forum there would be a lot of agreement with that policy.

[Toastmaker]

andyt andyt:

well again, if a case collapses due to cops' lying on the stand, and there are no consequences, IA isn't doing their job. I harbor the suspicion that among cops there's a degree of being OK with lying if you know the scumbag is guilty. And I harbor a suspicion that on this forum there would be a lot of agreement with that policy.

I admit that there is truth in this, unfortunately. It's a case of human nature conflicting with legal standards and sometimes the weaker humans win, hence the need for a robust IA effort to help keep the system as clean as possible in the long run.

[andyt]

Agreed. But I think that human nature extends to the entire justice system. Ie prosecutors for sure, and even judges. And juries. So "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"

[Toastmaker]

Theoretically - society watches them, and takes action via their representatives and their votes. That even works, sometimes.

[BartSimpson]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

Good. Name them and charge them and then FIRE THEM AND IMPRISON THEM. Good riddance.

Sorry, but when someone lies to get a conviction and a prison sentence then they deserve their own conviction and prison sentence.

[2Cdo]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

Good. Name them and charge them and then FIRE THEM AND IMPRISON THEM. Good riddance.

Sorry, but when someone lies to get a conviction and a prison sentence then they deserve their own conviction and prison sentence.

That should go for EVERYONE who lies trying to get a conviction, including so called "victims".

[Benn]

What everyone else said and this,

[quote]Police would decide whether the officer will be charged with a criminal offence.[/qupte]

Makes me think this won't go anywhere.