Police and Canadian citizens often clash during protests sometimes resulting in violent outcomes. Due to the nature of those altercations, there are few other events that require oversight more than the way police clash with protesters and there is a history of such oversight resulting in a number of Federal Parliamentary documents, Parliamentary Committee reports Task Force reports, reports arising from Public Interest Hearings of the Commission for Complaints Against the RCMP, and testimony at various hearings and inquiries which have produced particular argumentative discourses. Argumentative discourses that have a great effect on the construction of a civilian oversight agency of the RCMP is the focus of this thesis. This thesis examines how it is that different discourses, as represented by argumentative themes in these reports, intersect with one another in the process of creating a system of accountability for the RCMP. Through the lens of complaints that arise from protest and police clashes one may conclude that the current system of accountability does not adhere to a practice of protecting the most fundamental rights as prescribed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; nor would the currently proposed legislation contained within Bill C-38 alter the system in a substantial way to allow for such protections. The power dynamic between the Commissioner of the Force and the Commission for Complaints Against the RCMP favours the police force in the current and proposed system. In order for the current political landscape to become a climate favourable toward producing a system of RCMP accountability that truly protects the rights and freedoms prescribed in the Charter, a significant shift must occur in different organizations, agencies, and individuals who influence the creation of legislation and policy in this nation. This shift must be characterized by an increase in strengthening the commitment of the RCMP to protect the rights and freedoms as prescribed by the Charter rather than its current focus and interest in trying to stem the erosion of public trust and confidence in the Force. / Thesis (Master, Sociology) -- Queen's University, 2011-07-05 21:46:10.126

O papel da polícia em uma sociedade democrática é auxiliar os cidadãos e fazer com que todos observem as leis. Por isso mesmo, a atividade policial não deve estar acima das leis. Como toda instituição republicana, a polícia deve prestar contas das suas atividades, ainda mais porque utiliza a força, podendo facilmente ultrapassar os limites da violência legítima. A experiência das ouvidorias de polícia mostra que a sua instalação faz diferença. As ouvidorias são instituições que incentivam a participação dos cidadãos. Trata-se de instituições recentes e inovadoras com grande potencial para ajudar a garantir os direitos humanos. / The role of the police in a democratic society is to help citizens and make them obey the law. For this reason, police activities should not be above the law. As with every institution of a republic, the police are expected to be accountable for their actions, even more so because they use force and may easily exceed the limits of justifiable violence. The experience of civilian oversight of the police shows that its existence makes a difference. Such oversight comes in the form of institutions that invite the involvement of citizens. These institutions are recent and innovative with great potential for helping and guaranteeing human rights.

O papel da polícia em uma sociedade democrática é auxiliar os cidadãos e fazer com que todos observem as leis. Por isso mesmo, a atividade policial não deve estar acima das leis. Como toda instituição republicana, a polícia deve prestar contas das suas atividades, ainda mais porque utiliza a força, podendo facilmente ultrapassar os limites da violência legítima. A experiência das ouvidorias de polícia mostra que a sua instalação faz diferença. As ouvidorias são instituições que incentivam a participação dos cidadãos. Trata-se de instituições recentes e inovadoras com grande potencial para ajudar a garantir os direitos humanos. / The role of the police in a democratic society is to help citizens and make them obey the law. For this reason, police activities should not be above the law. As with every institution of a republic, the police are expected to be accountable for their actions, even more so because they use force and may easily exceed the limits of justifiable violence. The experience of civilian oversight of the police shows that its existence makes a difference. Such oversight comes in the form of institutions that invite the involvement of citizens. These institutions are recent and innovative with great potential for helping and guaranteeing human rights.

This study analyses parliamentary intelligence oversight in South Africa by assessing the understanding of members of the JSCI of its core business, its mission and vision and powers and functions as are stipulated by law. The study locates the JSCI within an international intelligence oversight milieu through a review and evaluation of selected countries’ intelligence oversight mechanisms. Furthermore, international best practice is sought and applicable lessons are drawn for South Africa. The study is bases on a literature review and interviews with members of the JSCI to gather information and draw insights to evaluate and test the propositions in the context of international and national best practice. The propositions, which are supported by the research, are that: · Intelligence oversight in South Africa under the JSCI has hitherto been relatively effective although there is room for improvement. · The JSCI has good relations with the other arms of the state that are responsible for the oversight of Intelligence in South Africa – making parliamentary intelligence oversight, overall, quite effective. · Despite this effectiveness there are legislative gaps and problems pertaining to the modus operandi of the JSCI that need the attention of both the Executive and Legislature and which could be part of a package of legislative reform. The research supported these propositions whilst pointing out that new initiatives need attention if the culture of oversight is to find root. These are the need to widen the scope of accountability to build a culture of accountability among middle and senior management members of the Intelligence structures and secondly the way Parliament resources the JSCI. / Dissertation (M (Political Sciences))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Political Sciences / unrestricted