Citizens Panel to release Overview Report with recommendations to rebuild trust between citizens and police

Ottawa, May 7, 2002 . . The Citizens Panel on Policing and the Community will release its Overview Report at a public meeting with recommendations on how trust may be rebuilt between police and citizens in the wake of events during G-20 demonstrations in Ottawa November 16 - 18, 2001.

Details of the release are as follows:

Date: Thursday, May 9, 2002
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: First United Church , 397 Kent St., Ottawa (corner of Kent and Florence, just north of Gladstone)
Report availability: The overview report will be posted on the Panel s website (Overview Report) as of 4:00 pm, May 9. Hardcopies of the report will also be available at the evening meeting.
Media availability: Panel members will be available to speak to the media earlier on May 9 in advance of the public meeting. The media is also invited to attend the public meeting.

Members of the Panel will outline:

• Why police treatment of marchers remains of serious concern.
• What changes to police practices are needed to ensure that similar treatment does not occur at public demonstrations in the future. Panel members are especially concerned about this issue in advance of planned demonstrations surrounding meetings of the G-8 in June. Reference will be made to the Ottawa Police Service report "Agenda for Excellence".
• Potential community mechanisms to ensure striking an appropriate balance between security needs and the fundamental democratic right to expression of views. Specific reference will be made to the Panel’s recommendations.

For further information or to arrange an interview, contact: citizenspanel@groups.io