As requested, please find below answers to your questions.
Sgt. Sylvie Tremblay
Public Affairs and Communication Services
RCMP
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Why does the RCMP appear silent regarding the stats anomalies in B.C.?
The population density in B.C. is much greater than in other provinces policed by
the RCMP. In addition, the type of police work in B.C. is heavily urban-focused,
compared to the predominantly rural policing that goes on in the other provinces
in RCMP jurisdiction. Crime is logically more pronounced in urban centres than in
rural areas. The majority of the deaths were related to high-risk lifestyles
involving alcohol and drugs.
Why are the numbers of ICD [in-custody deaths] significantly higher than in
the '90s?
Earlier data focused only on deaths which occurred inside the cells of RCMP
detachments, but now the term *in custody* applies to much wider
circumstances. In-custody death reporting took on greater importance as the
RCMP increased its effort to improve its service, find ways to prevent injury or
death, and work toward greater transparency. In 2007, the definition of in-custody
death was widened to capture any death to which the presence of the RCMP
could have been a contributing factor, no matter how small. For example, if
someone were to speed away at the sight of a pursuing RCMP police car and die
after crashing into a tree, that would now count as an in-custody death.
Why do we say that although ICD in cells have decreased that it is good
news since the overall numbers have either stayed the same or increased?
The force-wide cell retrofit program was launched, following careful study and
consultation, to reduce the number of preventable cell deaths that had been
recorded in years past. Policy was also changed to improve the handling of
prisoners. The result of these initiatives was a reduction in cell death numbers,
so this change was considered to be good news.
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Why did it take till 2003 to have a coherent reporting system to document
ICD? What was done before?
Reports on ICD were made on an ad hoc basis prior to 2003. The RCMP
augmented its reporting processes more recently in order to develop a profile of
risk factors related to in-custody deaths, so that RCMP training programs and
policies could be improved to address this issue.
Why is it concluded in the executive summary that the deaths reported
couldn't have been prevented due to the actions of these persons? Can the
same be said for the previous years, 2002-2005?
A perusal of the individual circumstances of these deaths will show that some
would have occurred due to outside circumstances (drug overdoses, extreme
alcohol intoxication) which no change to police training or intervention methods
could prevent. To obtain information about prior years would require another
ATIP request.
Will the report be done every year, if not, when will it be done next?
In-custody death reports are done annually. The 2007 report is nearing
completion.
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