Spy Watchdog Criticizes RCMP for Protocol Loopholes to Prevent Involvement in Torture
According to a federal spy watchdog, a senior RCMP official made a mistake by prioritizing a strategic relationship with a foreign organization when assessing the risk of sharing information that could lead to torture.
The Avoiding Complicity in Mistreatment by Foreign Entities Act aims to prevent individuals in foreign custody from being mistreated as a result of information exchanged by Canada with foreign agencies.
The RCMP and other federal agencies covered by these provisions are required to evaluate the risk of mistreatment and determine if that risk can be mitigated.
In a report issued on June 20, the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency strongly advises against considering other factors, such as the importance of strategic relationships, when assessing significant risk.
The intelligence review agency suggested that in cases where an RCMP assistant commissioner disagrees with a committee’s recommendation against sharing information, the case should automatically be escalated to the commissioner of the force.
