OPP Media Release
OPP RELEASE REPORT ON POLICE PREPAREDNESS FOR RESPONDING TO ABORIGINAL CRITICAL INCIDENTS WITH THE FRAMEWORK
Policy Directive Followed 2007 Ipperwash Inquiry
(ORILLIA, ON) – For the first time since it was created, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has released the Framework for Police Preparedness for Aboriginal Critical Incidents along with the Annual Report on the Framework Approach for 2015.
Entrenched as an OPP critical policy since 2005, the Framework guides the police response to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal issue-related conflicts.
“To contribute to the spirit of reconciliation, we welcome the people of Ontario and members of its Indigenous communities to read the Annual Report and the Framework itself," said OPP Commissioner J.V.N. (Vince) Hawkes.
"We hope it furthers open discussion on our rationale while demonstrating another way the OPP supports safe and secure communities.”
The Framework:
· promotes an operationally sound, informed and flexible approach to resolving conflict and managing crises in a consistent manner;
· demonstrates accommodation and mutual respect of differences, positions and interests of involved aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities and the OPP; and,
· promotes and develops strategies that minimize the use of force to the fullest extent possible.
The OPP Framework relies heavily on dialogue, communication and relationships with the clear objective to preserve the peace, prevent offences, and enforce the law in a neutral manner that respects and protects the rights of all involved parties.
"Members of the OPP have embraced the Framework and have put it into practice for a decade," said Superintendent Paul Mackey, Commander, OPP Aboriginal Policing Bureau.
"The Framework continues to serve our organization very well and enhances our already positive dialogues and relationships with our various Indigenous community partners and leaders.”
The Report of the Ipperwash Inquiry (2007) declared the Framework a “best practice” and recommended that the OPP prepare an annual report on its use and post it on the OPP website. The annual report provides examples of how the Framework has been applied and a statistical summary of implementation for the year.
In 2015, the Framework approach was applied in 118 incidents, including aboriginal critical incidents and major events and/or protest activity, both aboriginal and non-aboriginal.
To provide greater insight to the public, the Framework itself has now been posted to the OPP website at https://www.opp.ca accompanying the annual reports on its use.
