Senior officers from Vancouver police and 2010 Integrated Security Unit will attend legal observer training for the Olympics hosted by the B.C. Civil Liberties Association and PIVOT Legal Society.
“Our goal for the 2010 Olympic Games is the same as them,” said Vancouver police Const. Lindsey Houghton. “We agree with them. We want Vancouver to showcase democracy, free speech. People will be allowed to protest as long as they do it lawfully and not break any laws in any public space.”
Vancouver police will dispatch an inspector for identical training offered to civilian observers who will monitor security forces to ensure basic rights are protected during the Games.
Police will receive all training materials given to civilian participants of the program.
“Through this special training, we hope to ensure that the neutral, independent, accountable role of our legal observers is respected in 2010,” said BCCLA president Robert Holmes.
Keeping lines of communication open between all agencies is a positive when improving community relations, Houghton said.
“I think there’s potential for a lot of misinformation and mystery around what different groups are planning whether it’s police or the B.C. Civil Liberties Association and by getting together and sitting at the same table in an open environment where there’s a lot of conversation will certainly help everybody,” he said.
