“Democratic policing”: Lessons from Ipperwash and Caledonia

Recently, there has been much controversy and confusion about the concept of “police independence” in the United Kingdom and Canada. The concept loomed large during the Ipperwash Inquiry, in which the alleged political direction of the Ontario Provincial Police was a major issue. These proceedings were partly concurrent with another Aboriginal occupation in Caledonia, Ontario. The Inquiry's final report recommended adopting a “democratic policing” model, which is significantly different from the “police independence” model. This aspect of the report has, however, received little or no public attention. Instead, the Ontario government continues to support “police independence,” while simultaneously claiming to implement the recommendations of the Ipperwash Inquiry. How to respond to groups of people who pose real or potential threats to public order has been a major issue in Canada, requiring political decisions that are too important to be left solely to the police.