Close X
Friday, November 1, 2024
ADVT 
National

Police group pushes back on B.C. roadblocks

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Apr, 2021 11:09 PM
  • Police group pushes back on B.C. roadblocks

British Columbia's solicitor general says the government will release details of what is considered essential travel later in the week as the province considers using roadblocks to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Mike Farnworth described the checkpoints as a type of "counterattack," often used to find drunk drivers, but this time meant to discourage recreational travel outside of a person's health authority.

His comments come as the National Police Federation released a statement saying it has "grave concerns" about police taking part in enforcing a COVID-19 ban on non-essential travel.

A statement from Brian Sauvé, president of the federation, says asking the police to enforce roadblocks puts even greater pressure on limited resources and exposes officers to further risk and possible COVID-19 infections.

"Equally important, we are continuing to enhance and build on our relationships with vulnerable and racialized communities, and the ambiguity and potentially negative impacts of these orders risk reversing this progress," he said.

He also pointed to a similar attempt in Ontario where the province had to pedal back enforcement measures.

Officers were originally given powers to stop any pedestrian or driver to ask why they're out or request their home address. But on Sunday, Doug Ford's government limited police to being able to stop people who they had reason to believe were participating in an "organized public event or social gathering.''

Police forces in Ontario had said they had no intention of exercising their new powers ahead of the reversal.

Sauvé noted that police services took the "unusual step" of rejecting the orders.

"They explained in no uncertain terms that Ontario police officers had no appetite to act on enhanced powers that are typically found in police states, and that doing so would erode a currently fragile public trust, especially with vulnerable and racialized communities," he said.

The province reported 862 new cases of COVID-19 today and seven more deaths.

A statement says more than 1.4 million doses of the vaccine have been administered and people who are 30 years and older are eligible to register for the vaccine in the age-based vaccination program.

MORE National ARTICLES

997 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

997 COVID19 cases for Wednesday
There are currently 3,766 confirmed COVID-19 cases that are variants of concern in our province.

997 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

Officers discover party in downtown apartment

Officers discover party in downtown apartment
Numerous violation tickets were issued to the party-goers, including a $2,300 fine for the party host.

Officers discover party in downtown apartment

B.C. traffic stops not done by police impersonator

B.C. traffic stops not done by police impersonator
Police say a review of each incident allowed investigators to determine the four stops were carried out by a traffic enforcement officer who was on duty, dressed in uniform and operating an unmarked SUV.

B.C. traffic stops not done by police impersonator

B.C. under-reporting COVID-19 variants: experts

B.C. under-reporting COVID-19 variants: experts
Sarah Otto, a University of British Columbia professor who has done COVID-19 modelling, said the province's reliance on time-consuming whole-genome sequencing to confirm variant cases is not necessary.

B.C. under-reporting COVID-19 variants: experts

Vancouver expands overdose response team

Vancouver expands overdose response team
Mayor Kennedy Stewart says a "very important" pilot program that paired firefighters with staff from Vancouver Coastal Health will stay in place to help people break the cycle of overdoses by connecting them with support services.

Vancouver expands overdose response team

Surrey RCMP need your help in locating missing man Prabhraj Sekhon

Surrey RCMP need your help in locating missing man Prabhraj Sekhon
Police and family are concerned for his health and well-being. He usually hangs out in the Surrey or Vancouver area.

Surrey RCMP need your help in locating missing man Prabhraj Sekhon