Police forces look to take missing, murdered Indigenous women inquiry findings

Jun 4, 2019 | 12:09 PM

OTTAWA — The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police says it is looking to help police services across Canada with recommendations from the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

In findings released Monday, the commission called on the association to make sure there is consistency in reporting mechanisms for reporting missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual people.

The association says it is grateful the inquiry commissioners trusted it to lead the strategy, adding it will continue to study the commission’s findings, its recommendations and how the police chiefs can assist police services across Canada.

The inquiry’s report also called for standardized response times after reports of violence and regular audits of those response times.

The RCMP says it accepts the findings of the commission and has already established a national unit to help with major investigations and in updating policies and procedures for missing-person and sudden-death investigations.

Commissioner Brenda Lucki says her force will carefully consider changes that strengthen investigations, support survivors and families and reduce violence.

The Canadian Press