Delays in Responding to CRCC Interim Reports
Date: April 27, 2021
Classification: Unclassified
Fully releasable (ATIP)? Yes
Branch/Agency: RCMP
Issue:
RCMP delays in responding to the CRCC Interim Reports.
Proposed Response:
- Civilian review is essential for ensuring public trust and confidence, and the RCMP fully supports the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission's investigative role.
- The RCMP aims to respond appropriately and effectively to all public complaints and maintain open communication with the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission to ensure accountability and transparency in the public complaints process.
- The RCMP has made significant progress in reducing their backlog of CRCC interim reports that require responses.
- The RCMP will eliminate the backlog by December 31, 2021.
- As of April 1, 2021 any new interim reports received by the RCMP will be responded to within the six-month service standard.
Background:
Section 45.71(3)(a) of the RCMP Act prescribes that the Commission send the Interim Report to the Minister and the Commissioner. The Commissioner shall, as soon as feasible, provide the Commission and the Minister with a written response to the Commission’s Chairperson, who in turn will complete the Final Report.
Any recommendation regarding the operation or administration of the RCMP can have far-reaching and significant impacts to the organization and the public. As a result, there are many factors that need to be considered in preparing a response. These include existing case law, legal authorities, budgets, and potential impacts on our service to the public, amongst others. The RCMP acknowledges it takes time for a complete response to the interim reports, due in part to the number of interim reports and the volume of relevant material to be analyzed.
The National Public Complaints Directorate acknowledges that there is a delay in responding to the interim reports regarding public complaints. There has been a significant increase in CRCC interim reports in the last two years. Addressing the interim reports from the CRCC and improving timeliness of RCMP analysis/responses remains a priority. The Commissioner is committed to making every effort to provide a written response as soon as feasible.
- 103 Commissioner’s Responses completed in fiscal year 2020 - 2021.
- 15 Commissioner’s Responses completed since April 1, 2021.
- All new employees have started and are receiving training.
- Interim Reports received in April and after will be completed in the six-month service standard.
- 106 interim reports total in the queue; 79 were received more than 6 months ago.
The ultimate goal of the public complaint process is to provide excellence in policing through accountability.
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