RCMP considered ‘lessons learned’ from ‘Freedom Convoy’: internal documents – National | 24CA News
After policing the “Freedom Convoy,” the RCMP got here away with classes realized, newly launched paperwork present – together with the necessity to higher put together for the potential concentrating on of emergency telephone traces.
Briefing notes obtained by The Canadian Press underneath access-to-information legal guidelines additionally level to safety pressures to guard leaders in Ottawa and element the challenges that arose from the actual fact the protests had no clear management.
The pressure compiled the paperwork earlier than six high RCMP officers, together with Commissioner Brenda Lucki, have been interviewed by legal professionals with the Public Order Emergency Commission final September.
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In early 2022, Lucki was among the many officers Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and members of his cupboard regarded to as they grappled with how to reply to protests staged close to Parliament Hill in Ottawa and at a number of U.S. border crossings.
To clear the protesters, who have been demonstrating in opposition to Trudeau’s authorities and COVID-19 public well being measures, Ottawa finally invoked the federal Emergencies Act – a transfer that Justice Paul Rouleau dominated was justified in a ultimate report launched a month in the past.
The tons of of hours of testimony and 1000’s of pages of paperwork offered over six weeks of public hearings final fall culminated in 56 suggestions, 27 of which have been directed at enhancing police operations.
But lengthy earlier than the Rouleau report’s launch, the RCMP had already prepped its personal listing of “preliminary lessons learned,” two of the briefing paperwork present.
The Mounties acknowledged that “setting the tone early with protesters” was vital and was “complicated by the lack of clear leadership.”
Another lesson realized was the necessity to forestall automobiles or different encampments from turning into “entrenched” in a public area, in response to the doc.
Other prompt enhancements to future operations included “anticipating swatting of emergency call lines,” offering officers with listening to safety and planning for an uptick in safety calls for for members of Parliament and cupboard ministers.
University of Ottawa criminology professor Michael Kempa means that the teachings realized present the RCMP realizes that it can’t use its method to policing previous protests as a blueprint for future ones.
“They’re saying, ‘We can’t rely on our past experience.’”
In an interview, Kempa mentioned the convoy was an instance of a “new form of mass protest,” which may be organized by way of social media and might increase tons of cash, however that doesn’t have clear management amongst totally different protest teams.
The RCMP didn’t reply to a request for remark.
The doc ready for its officers got here full with a timeline and outline of the duties the RCMP carried out through the weeks-long protest in Ottawa, which included offering safety escorts for cupboard ministers, occasion leaders and judges.
It says the pressure’s protecting division noticed a pointy uptick within the variety of threats and “inappropriate comments” made in opposition to officers underneath its safety, nearly all of which have been directed at Trudeau.
The briefing be aware says the RCMP opened 168 “adverse files” from Jan. 21 to the tip of Feb. 28 in 2022, in comparison with 44 throughout the identical interval in 2021.
During final fall’s inquiry, Lucki’s efficiency got here underneath heavy scrutiny when it was revealed that she didn’t share data with cupboard {that a} plan was in place to clear protesters from Ottawa.
While testifying, Lucki acknowledged: “I guess in hindsight, yeah, that might have been something significant.”
The inquiry additionally realized that within the hours earlier than the choice was made, Lucki had despatched a be aware to a senior official that prompt she felt not “all available tools” had been explored.
In a “hot issues note” dated two days after her time on the stand – additionally obtained by The Canadian Press underneath entry legal guidelines – the RCMP was extra direct about its want for the emergency powers as a result of Ottawa’s “unique challenges.”
“While law enforcement partners including the RCMP eventually devised a viable plan to dismantle the convoy in Ottawa, the timeliness of these actions would not have been possible without the proclamation of a public order emergency under the Emergencies Act,” the be aware reads.
It provides: “The (Emergencies Act) gave law enforcement the tools to get the job done quickly and safely.”
Kempa mentioned that whereas Lucki’s testimony was “somewhat confusing” as as to whether she felt the powers have been wanted, the pressure appeared extra “unambiguous” internally in suggesting they weren’t solely useful however vital.
The briefing paperwork present that earlier than the inquiry started, the RCMP additionally compiled a set of “outcomes” it needed the fee to contemplate.
One was the introduction of a “new National Police Act” that it hoped would offer “clear” authorities for peace officers and “clarify thresholds” between totally different ranges of police in relation to nationwide crises.
The RCMP additionally needed Rouleau to contemplate “effective deterrents and increased penalties with the Criminal Code of Canada and applicable legislation to prevent individuals from organizing, participating or conducting unlawful protest activity.”
Asked if the federal government was contemplating any legislative modifications following Rouleau’s report and the convoy protests, a spokeswoman for Justice Minister David Lametti’s workplace didn’t supply a direct reply.
“We are reviewing the report carefully, and as (Prime Minister Justin Trudeau) committed to, will issue a comprehensive, public response to the commissioner’s recommendations within the next year,” Diana Ebadi mentioned in an e mail.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
