Summary
The BCCLA conducted 16 workshops in 14 rural centres across British Columbia, focussed on the north. The workshop format itself invited comments about RCMP incidents, individuals or policies, beginning with positive comments and finishing with negative comments. Participants were specifically asked about their thoughts on the contract process and whether they had any opinions about a provincial, municipal, or continued national police force providing services in their communities. A number of recurring issues were mentioned repeatedly in different jurisdictions by unrelated people, without any prompting from the Association. These issues included: beat policing and bicycle policing; non-RCMP RCMP officers; a lack of de-escalation skills; treatment of Aboriginal people; lack of Aboriginal consultation and participation in the contract negotiation process; treatment of drunk or high in public arrestees; inadequate cells; short term placement for officers in small communities; and police self-investigation and a lack of accountability.