No public trust without police oversight board, says First Voice

Public confidence in police accountability is down, especially among Indigenous people in Newfoundland and Labrador.

That's one of the takeaways from a new survey on policing services in the province, released last month by the Police Transformation Working Group.

According to the report, Indigenous respondents said they weren't confident police would properly respond to, and investigate, reports of crime. While many of the civilians from all demographics who responded to the survey said they didn't know how to file a complaint against a police officer, Indigenous respondents have even less confidence in their complaint being treated fairly.

The results don't surprise First Voice spokesperson Justin Campbell. The organization's 2022 poll found similarly low levels of trust in police to conduct fair investigations into misconduct complaints against police officers.

"We think that this goes beyond just an Indigenous issue, even though Indigenous people tend to be much more affected by it," Campbell told The St. John's Morning Show.

The solution, he said, is to create a civilian-led police oversight board, independent from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. Campbell believes that could solve many of the issues brought up in the survey.

Half of survey respondents said they don't believe police are doing an effective job of keeping communities safe. Only 44 per cent said they're confident police respond to, and investigate, reports of crime, and 43 per cent said they don't know how to file a complaint against a police officer. Most Indigenous respondents, women, and respondents with an income under $50,000 agreed.

"Without an ongoing process to gather meaningful community input ... trust in police cannot be rebuilt and confidence in their ability to serve the public cannot be restored," Campbell said.

In 2022, First Voice proposed 26 recommendations for the RNC to improve services and boost public trust. Campbell says only six of those recommendations have been met through recently passed legislation. The latest: a Law Enforcement Commission Act which was passed by government, but has yet to be implemented.

"This act is very encouraging. It's the right direction. I think there's still more ways to go," he said.

St John's Morning Show8:20Provincial survey shows deep lack of trust in police among Indigenous people

First Light says a recent policing survey has revealed what it already knew -- that there are systemic issues with the police in Newfoundland and Labrador. We spoke with the group's director of advocacy, Justin Campbell.

First Voice has also been working with the RNC to form an Indigenous Advisory Committee. In June 2023, the formation of the committee was announced. But Campbell says they have yet to actually meet.

"Very disappointed in that," Campbell said. "Again, this shows why there is such a significant need for civilian-led oversight of police, because we can only do so much on our own side."

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