[van-discuss] Re: police unlawful arrest

[Lani Russwurm]

Such regulations however, do not amount to much more than a standing order as both are up to the discretion of the "discipline authority" to act upon violations, in which case the police are unlikely to take seriously unless it would serve their interests to do so (i.e., inaction would look bad in the public's eye). Also, the regulations explicitly allow the police to be abusive and oppressive if it is necessary to perform their job. Virtually every case of brutality that I've heard of in this city, the cops claim the victim was "resisting arrest" (as in Chris' case), which gives them the green light to be abusive assholes, and justify dismissing the complaint in the PCC process.  The only thing I can see that would compel them to be accountable is if the public's high regard for the police would change (i.e., public awareness of regular police abuse) were to change, which is the best argument for bothering to file a complaint. The law is clearly on their side unless some critical mass were reached to change that, and high numbers of complaints could contribute to this.
-lani. 


"Mark Bussanich" <markb at tao.ca> wrote:

>Pete:
>
>The law I referred to is s. 8(1) of the Police (Uniforms) Regulation BC Reg.
>315/97:
>
>Identification
>8 (1) A badge, metal, plastic or cloth, bearing an identification number or
>name, shall be worn above the right breast pocket of all uniform officers,
>but the wearing of an identification badge by executive and senior officers
>shall be at the discretion of the chief constable.
>
>There is nothing (that I know of) saying they have to reveal their identity
>to you, just that their identity must be displayed on the uniform.  Also, it
>should be noted that this Regulation is part of the BC Police Act which is
>only applicable to municipal forces - i.e. excludes the RCMP.
>
>Hope that helps.
>
>Mark
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Pete Lypkie" <pete at linux-geek.net>
>To: <van-discuss at resist.ca>
>Sent: Friday, October 11, 2002 1:56 PM
>Subject: Re: [van-discuss] Re: police unlawful arrest
>
>
>> On Fri, Oct 11, 2002 at 10:29:26AM -0700, Mark Bussanich wrote:
>> > All that said, officers are required by law to have a visible ID number
>on
>> > their uniform (usually on the left chest).
>> >
>>
>> do you have any specifics at hand?  Is this part of the Police Act, or is
>it
>> some sort of standing order?  Does it apply to both RCMP and Vancouver
>> Police, or just one?
>>
>
>
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