The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association filed a complaint with the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner today over the treatment of 15-year-old Willow Kinloch by the Victoria Police Department. Ms. Kinloch, now 18, has launched a civil suit against the Victoria police after she was left alone in a small padded cell, hancuffed and with her legs tied up, for over four hours. The incident was captured on video.
The complaint focuses on several issues including:
- whether there was compliance with parental/adult notice requirements under Sections 26(1) and 26(4) of the Youth Criminal Justice Act
- the appropriateness of the use of the restraint strap;
- the appropriateness of the degree of force used to subdue Ms. Kinloch;
- the appropriateness of leaving Ms. Kinloch restrained for over four hours without physically checking on her
- Statements made by the Victoria Police Department to the media that the BCCLA “approved” of the use of the modified restraint strap
