Policing - adapting to protest

Why study history?

The answer is because we virtually must, to gain access to the laboratory of human experience. When we study it reasonably well, and so acquire some usable habits of mind, as well as some basic data about the forces that affect our own lives, we emerge with relevant skills and an enhanced capacity for informed citizenship, critical thinking, and simple awareness. – Peter N. Stearns, Why Study History? (1998)

Lessons from the G7, G8 and G20 protests

• Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Adapting to Protest, 5 July 2009.

• HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, Adapting to Protest - Nurturing the British Model of Policing, 25 November 2009.

• Commission for Public Complaints Against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Public Interest Investigation into RCMP Member Conduct Related to the 2010 G8 and G20 Summits.

• G20 Summit Toronto, Ontario June 2010 Toronto Police Service After-Action Review June 2011.

• Office of the Independent Police Review Director, Policing the right to protest, G20 Systemic Review Report, May 2012.

• HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, The rules of engagement, a review of the August 2011 disorders.

• Observation Report on the Security Measures Deployed in Québec During Citizens’ Activities at the G7 Summit in à La Malbaie, submitted to the Minister of Public Security by Louis-Philippe Lampron, Christine Vézinaand Mario Bilodeau, 24 July 2018.

G20 class action

• Two legal action against Toronto Police Services Board

  • Sherry Good v. Toronto Police Services Board 5 August 2010.
  • Thomas Howard Taylor v. Toronto Police Services Board 23 March 2015.

• Horkins J. refused to certified the proceedings as a class action. Sherry Good appealed to the Divisional Court. The appeal was allowed on 6 August 2014.

• The Toronto Police Services Board appealed against the decision of the Divisional Court. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal on 6 April 2016.

• The Toronto Police Services Board appealed against the decision of the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal on 6 April 2016.

Epilogue

To clarify, the Supreme Court’s decision does not make any finding against the Toronto Police Services Board, it merely confirms that the protestors have the necessary certificate from court that grants them leave to pursue a class action lawsuit against the police. Whether their ultimate lawsuit is successful remains to be seen and will likely take many more years before a final decision is reached. — Canadian Civil Liberties Association