For Immediate Release
20 November, 2023
NDP MHA, Lela Evans (Torngat Mountains), is calling the lack of community representation on the Policing Transformation Initiative a fatal flaw and misses the opportunity to restore public confidence in policing.
“Community advocates have expressed that they have a lack of trust with the current policing model and have called for greater police oversight. It is alarming women’s groups, Indigenous groups, the queer community, newcomers, and mental health advocates have no voice at the table,” said Evans. “There was a real opportunity for the government and enforcement agencies to show they are tuned in to what the community has called for and it feels like overlooking this is a fatal flaw of this initiative.
With community groups are calling for the establishment of a police oversight board, Evans is questioning why the Minister of Justice and Public Safety continues to show resistance.
“An oversight board could have had a positive step in restoring public trust, but the communities expressing concerns have no voice at the table,” said Evans. “Multiple groups have called for a community-lead police oversight committee and I cannot understand how the Minister of Justice and enforcement agencies can continue to ignore this call from the people they are sworn to serve.”
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For further information, contact Eddy St. Coeur, Director of Communications, NDP Caucus at 729-2137 (o), or eddystcoeur@gov.nl.ca