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RCMP will conduct an “after-action review” of their procedures and the execution of the court injunction in northwestern BC.
The RCMP enforced a court-ordered interim injunction on Jan. 7 with the intent to remove a blockade established by anti-pipeline demonstrators.
The blockade inhibited Coastal GasLink workers and contractors from a work site where a natural gas pipeline is planned to be constructed near Houston, BC.
At a RCMP press conference on Monday, Assistant Commissioner Eric Stubbs addressed concerns surrounding the enforcement of the injunction, following an agreement made between the RCMP and the Wet’suwet’en clan’s Hereditary Chiefs on Thursday.
“I appreciate that for those directly involved with police at the barricade it was an emotional situation,” Stubbs said.
“I understand there are some concerns surrounding our actions on Jan. 7.”
RCMP approached the Gidimt'en Camp blockade on Jan. 7 where Stubbs says RCMP attempted to resolve the matter, but were unable to come to an agreement.
Stubbs stated that the situation following failed negotiation attempts between RCMP and Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs was a challenging one.
“The protestors reaction to the police ranged from passive resistance, to active resistance to actual assaultive behaviour,” he said.
Stubbs added that neither RCMP nor demonstrators were seriously injured during the 14 arrests that occurred during the confrontation.
Stubbs stated that the RCMP will be reviewing the interaction using video evidence of the operation from body-worn cameras, drone and helicopter video, video recorded by forensic ident personnel and video circulating in the public to review the events.
“To date, we have not yet identified any issues regarding police officer conduct,” said Stubbs.
“However, it is important we engage with the Hereditary Chiefs and any other involved persons to ensure that they are aware of the independent public complaint process available to them.”
Stubbs said the agreement between the two parties included a framework for continued police presence and police are in the process of erecting a temporary detachment in the area to maintain a safe environment.
Hereditary Chiefs offered to provide cultural awareness training to all members assigned to the detachment, he added.
A timeline for the review has not yet been established but Stubbs said he understands there is "urgency."
With files from The Canadian Press
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