Beaudry: New Impetus Towards Equality in Law Enforcement

Document Type

Response or Comment

Publication Date

2007

Keywords

R v Beaudry, Supreme Court of Canada, Impaired Driving, Aborted Investigation, Police Discretion, Obstruction of Justice, Criminal Code s 139(2)

Abstract

R v Beaudry is a rare case in Canadian criminal law in which the Supreme Court closely examines an aborted investigation of an impaired driving incident. The original suspect was a police officer and the eventual allegation against the investigator was that Segeant Beaudry acted on the basis of favouritism, using his discretion improperly, according "preferential treatment" to a fellow police officer. In upholding the conviction of the accused for obstructing justice under s 139(2) of the Criminal Code, the Supreme Court has made some powerful statements that should conduce to improving the standards of Canadian police forces.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS