THE MILITARY POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMISSION

Although civilian oversight of law enforcement has become increasingly common over the past twenty years, when the Complaints Commission was established by the Parliament of Canada in December of 1999, it became one of the world's first, if not the first civilian body dedicated to the oversight of a military police service.

It should not be surprising that civilian oversight of law enforcement has become commonplace. Canadians expect those upon whom they bestow power to use it responsibly, and to
be accountable for their use of such power. This accountability is fundamental to maintaining confidence in and respect for the institutions that bind us as a nation. Recognizing this, Canada has developed mechanisms to ensure those who wield power on our behalf are not only accountable, but seen to be accountable.

This is particularly true of our police, to whom we have entrusted very special and significant powers – the power of arrest and detention, for example; even the power to use lethal force against citizens. With such exceptional powers come exceptional responsibility, and an equally exceptional degree of accountability.

Canadians understand the importance to society of police services that enjoy widespread trust and respect, and we are fortunate to be served by professional and well-managed police services that have earned our confidence. It is in the interest of maintaining this trust that Canadians insist any allegation of police misconduct be investigated thoroughly, and through a process of independent, civilian oversight that allows them to have confidence in the fairness of the result.

The Government of Canada created the Military Police Complaints Commission to provide Canadians with the assurance that allegations of misconduct against Canadian Forces Military Police are investigated fully and fairly, and that Military Police are independent in the performance of their policing duties and functions, free from interference from the chain of command.