Policing Dissent:

There has been significant exposure given to the role of the public police in the maintenance of order with respect to demonstrations of public dissent in Canada, and elsewhere. Commentators and observers are raising concern in the context of the policing of political events dealing with economic issues (broadly defined). This has certainly been the case with regard to the G-8 and G-20 Summits that took place in, and around, Toronto recently. The 2010 G-8 Summit in Huntsville, ON, was the cause of some concerns around funding and government sponsorship but little has resonated within the public arena. However, the G-20 Summit in Toronto that summer has generated an unprecedented amount of public scrutiny and, indeed, has cost taxpayers millions upon millions of dollars to peer into the practices and operations of several police agencies as they dealt with their responsibilities for this international event. There is an important public interest surrounding such events and the manner in which our public police perform in these circumstances. However, this could be a case of oversight overload.

Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP

The Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (CPC), the Ontario Independent Review of Police Director (OIRPD), and other bodies have taken stock of what occurred during the G-20 events. Largely, they have all been critical of the apparently overzealous nature of the police response. The CPC has released (May 2012) a report on the RCMP's involvement with the G-20 Summit in Toronto:

RCMP Member Conduct Related to the 2010 G8 & G20 Summits

In essence, the CPC found that the RCMP acted appropriately within the context of these events, howver, there were recommendations pertaining to improvements around improved operational guidelines, enhanced inter-agency agreements for such events, and more detailed record-keeping pertaining to such incidents. This is somewhat puzzling since the RCMP was supposed to be the guiding strategic and tactical planning presence presiding over the entire event.

Office of the Independent Police Review Director (Ontario)

The OIPRD has also published its report on this event (although this agency should learn to date their publications):

OIRPD Report on the G-20 Summit

Similarly, the Home Office (UK) is considering the riots in London earlier this year. Matters relating to public order, or more accurately, dealing with public dis-order have climbed to the top of the political agenda.

Toronto Police Services Board

What is clear is that the crush of oversight activities in the context of these events, especially the G20 Summit held in Toronto, ON and the aggressive tactics adopted by the Toronto Police Service has resulted in enormous costs to the taxpayer. For example, the Toronto Police Services Board (the Board), in an effort to underline both its distance from the Toronto Police Service's leadership in this operational situation. At its meeting on September 23, 2010, the Board approved the appointment of Justice John W. Morden to conduct an independent review into these matters. Morden is currently counsel with the law firm, Heenan Blaikie and regular monthly billing come into the Board from this firm for Morden's work on this file. In securing such high-priced professional services it is possible to question the value-added in the face of so much additional oversight and examination of these events.

Accordingly, in an effort to assert its civilian governing authority the TPSB has, as of April 24, 2012, spent a total of $980,613.21 on the Independent Civilian Review into Matters Relating to the G20 Summit (ICR). Value for money?