Lucki rejects idea of special prosecutor to look into assaults against RCMP members
Posted Jun 2, 2021 4:47 pm.
Last Updated Jun 2, 2021 5:00 pm.
OTTAWA — RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki is dismissing the idea of a special prosecutor to look into numerous claims that women in the national police force were assaulted by colleagues.
Lucki is telling a House of Commons committee this evening that the details were provided in confidence to former Supreme Court justice Michel Bastarache, who wrote an independent report on harassment of women in the RCMP.
As a result, Lucki says, it is up to individual women to come forward to police to seek a criminal investigation.
In his report released in November, Bastarache said fundamental change is needed to rid the RCMP of a toxic culture that tolerates hateful and homophobic attitudes.
Bastarache was the independent assessor who oversaw the provision of millions of dollars in compensation to 2,304 women involved in a class-action settlement covering several decades.
He said a shocking level of violence was reported by claimants, including over 130 penetrative sexual assaults.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2021.
The Canadian Press
