December 13, 2010

You've probably seen the footage ... a woman in Ottawa being kicked and pushed around by police before being strip-searched. That footage has reignited a debate many people thought was settled by the Supreme Court nine years ago ... a debate about how and when police may strip-search someone.

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PART TWO

Strip-Searches - Roberta Walker

It has been nine years since the Supreme Court of Canada prohibited strip-searches as a routine police practice. But just last month, the issue boiled over again, after a judge in Ottawa chastised local police for their un-provoked and violent strip-search of an innocent woman named Stacey Bonds. The Supreme Court handed down its ruling in December of 2001.

The case centered around Ian Golden, a black man who was strip-searched by Toronto police in a downtown restaurant. The Supreme Court ruled that strip-searches may only be done out of clear necessity with the permission of a supervisor and by members of the same sex.

But despite that ruling, strip-searches continue to be a common and controversial police practice. Freelance producer Roberta Walker has been looking into the issue. She was in Ottawa.

Related Links:

• SIU investigates strip search
• McGuinty 'shaken' by Stacy Bonds' case

Music Bridge

Artist: Caribou
Cd: Milk of Human Kindness
Cut: # 10, Pelican Narrows
Label: Domino
Spine: DNO 050 

Other Segments from today's show:

• Mackenzie Pipeline
• Dr. Stanley Vollant