Work to put G20 behind us for better policing, future peaceful protest – McNeilly

Putting G20 behind us for better policing, future peaceful protest – McNeilly

By William Doyle-Marshall
The Independent Police Review Director Gerry K. McNeilly expects Toronto Police Service administrators to implement his 42 recommendations to improve service within six to 12 months.
   In an exclusive interview at his Toronto office McNeilly said he believes six to 12 months is a reasonable time for implementation of recommendations related to the G20 summit protests of June 2010 in the City of Toronto.
   McNeilly undertook a comprehensive study of police actions resulting from the G20 summit in Toronto in 2010 that resulted in mass arrests and detention, involving members of the media.
   Sweeping proposals by McNeilly aimed at improving communication between police and the media emphasizes that major events require robust communication plans. As a result he recommends police services in Ontario should work with his office to develop plans for improved communications.
   “The public’s support for security measures is crucial to their success. Police services should develop a detailed public communications plan for major protests that includes the police’s role in facilitating peaceful protest,” McNeilly writes.
  The director released his findings about two months ago after exhaustive inquiry. He would be monitoring the situation as best as he can. Though McNeilly the Trinidad-born attorney has no enforcement role he hopes to get an opportunity to work with the Toronto Police Chief William Blair and all the Chiefs in Ontario who have received his report. Its his hope that they would all look at these Recommendations, accept them and move to implement them. Chief Blair has indicated some of McNeilly’s recommendations are already being implemented. “That’s a very good sign,” he recounted..
  “Policing the Right to Protest: G20 Systemic Review” is the title of McNeilly’s report. Some of its recommendations relate to training that must be accompanied by establishing protocol and policies and procedures. Others relate to change in attitude which demands that senior officers take responsibility in regard to their subordinate and their colleagues in general. Because of the need for identified attitudinal change, the Trinidad-born director suspects that maybe slow in coming. “But policies, rules and procedures could be made for those to be complied with and so it is for many of the other complaints,” McNeilly observed.
  He admits that the results of the massive G20 security operation were significant. Although the summit itself was not disturbed, the security    operation disrupted life as usual in downtown Toronto. The disorder which occurred and the ensuing police response certainly came as a shock to many including some of the police, the director observed. “As a result some members of the public have expressed a loss of trust in the police and the police themselves have engaged their own critical assessment of their actions, he continued.
   The report has been sent to all Police Chiefs and all Police Services Board Chairs the governments and others who may find it useful. The director hopes that they would all look at his recommendations, accept them and move to implement them.
     Responding to individuals who charge that no one is held responsible for wrong doings identified by the director, he says from the conduct perspective his review has made findings and substantiations against numerous officers, including some senior rank.
  He is convinced that those people have to take and will take some responsibility, regardless of the outcome of the tribunal hearing. McNeilly is encouraged that Chief Blair said he takes responsibility and he accepts the report and its recommendation and he intends to implement them. “To be quite honest, I want the opportunity to work with him to do that, to see my 42 recommendations implemented for policing in Ontario,” the director said.