Talking to the Police: Difference between revisions
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{{Law-Related ESL Badge | {{Law-Related ESL Badge | ||
|lessonname= Talking to the Police Lesson Module}} | |lessonname= Talking to the Police Lesson Module}} | ||
Criminal laws make it illegal for someone to hurt or steal from other people. People who are accused of breaking the criminal law are taken to court by the government. This section explains the role of the police in investigating crimes, and . | |||
==The role of police== | |||
A police officer's duty is to protect the people in the community. In Canada, the police have to obey the law. If you believe a police officer is not obeying the rules of their role you can make a complaint. | |||
British Columbia has two separate agencies that accept complaints about the police. | |||
Most of rural BC, and some municipalities, are policed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). For complaints about the RCMP, call 1-800-665-6878 or visit the [http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP]. | |||
Many municipalities in BC are policed by their own police force — the Vancouver Police Department is an example of a municipal force. The [http://www.opcc.bc.ca Police Complaints Commissioner of BC)] accepts [https://www.opcc.bc.ca/complainant/how_to_file_a_complaint.html complaints relating to municipal police forces]. | |||
===What to do if the police stop your car=== | ===What to do if the police stop your car=== | ||
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The police may stop you for many reasons. For example you may have been driving too fast, talking on your phone or not wearing a seat belt. If a police car is behind or beside you with their lights flashing they may want to talk to you. Pull your car over to the right side of the road and stop. | The police may stop you for many reasons. For example you may have been driving too fast, talking on your phone or not wearing a seat belt. If a police car is behind or beside you with their lights flashing they may want to talk to you. Pull your car over to the right side of the road and stop. | ||
If you are stopped the police officer will ask you several questions including: | If you are stopped by the police, the officer will ask you several questions including: | ||
*what is your name and address, | *what is your name and address, | ||
*whose car it is, and | *whose car it is, and | ||
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===Police at your house=== | ===Police at your house=== | ||
Police officers can knock at your door and ask to come in. The police officers can come into a house if they: | Police officers can knock at your door and ask to come in. The police officers can come into a house if they: | ||
*have a warrant, | *have a warrant, | ||
*think that someone they are looking for is in your house, | *think that someone they are looking for is in your house, | ||
*suspect there | *suspect there is a serious crime happening in the house, or | ||
*are invited in. | *are invited in. | ||
==Preventing crime== | |||
===What if you see a crime happening=== | ===What if you see a crime happening=== | ||
If you see a crime happening call the police right away. Wait for the police officers to come. | If you see a crime happening, call the police right away. Wait for the police officers to come. The police will come and want to talk to witnesses. | ||
Witnesses are very important to Canadian law. If a witness doesn’t talk to the police, the police may not be able to arrest the criminal. The criminal might go free, and there would be more crime. If people see a crime happening, it is their duty to talk to the police. | Witnesses are very important to Canadian law. If a witness doesn’t talk to the police, the police may not be able to arrest the criminal. The criminal might go free, and there would be more crime. If people see a crime happening, it is their duty to talk to the police. | ||
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:The police arrested a man. The police thought he was the man who robbed Ying Yee’s store. But the man said he did not do it. The police did not see him rob the store. Only Ying Yee saw the man who robbed the store. The police asked her to come to the police station. At the police station, she looked at pictures of some men. All the men looked similar, but one was the man who robbed her. She was sure. She told the police that he was the robber. | :The police arrested a man. The police thought he was the man who robbed Ying Yee’s store. But the man said he did not do it. The police did not see him rob the store. Only Ying Yee saw the man who robbed the store. The police asked her to come to the police station. At the police station, she looked at pictures of some men. All the men looked similar, but one was the man who robbed her. She was sure. She told the police that he was the robber. | ||
==Going to court== | |||
===A witness in court=== | ===A witness in court=== | ||
The victim and the witnesses to a crime may have to give evidence in court. Giving evidence means telling the court what you saw. | The victim and the witnesses to a crime may have to give evidence in court. Giving evidence means telling the court what you saw. | ||
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The Crown counsel has to show that the accused person broke the law. Another lawyer defends the accused person. The judge or jury listens to both lawyers and then makes a decision. Sometimes, the judge or jury cannot be quite sure. Then the judge will let the accused person go. | The Crown counsel has to show that the accused person broke the law. Another lawyer defends the accused person. The judge or jury listens to both lawyers and then makes a decision. Sometimes, the judge or jury cannot be quite sure. Then the judge will let the accused person go. | ||
==Being accused of a crime== | |||
===Arrest=== | ===Arrest=== | ||
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There are rules for the police when they are arresting someone. The police officer must say who he or she is and why he or she is arresting the person. The police officer also has to let the person phone a lawyer right away. | There are rules for the police when they are arresting someone. The police officer must say who he or she is and why he or she is arresting the person. The police officer also has to let the person phone a lawyer right away. | ||
A person being arrested also has rights. The person has a right to talk to the lawyer. The police must take the person to court within 24 hours or let him | A person being arrested also has rights. The person has a right to talk to the lawyer. The police must take the person to court within 24 hours or let him or her go. | ||
===Going to court=== | ===Going to court=== | ||
If you are arrested you will receive a notice to go to court, where you will be charged for breaking the law. You will either have to plead guilty, meaning you agree that you broke the law, or not guilty, meaning you don’t agree that you broke the law. You should talk to a lawyer before you decide what to do. | |||
Canada has different rules for young people who break the law. Youth attend youth court. For more information about youth and the law, read the section [[Young People and the Law]] in the ''[[Learning about the Law Wikibook]]'' from the People’s Law School, or their booklet ''Consequences of a Youth Record'', available at [http://www.publiclegaled.bc.ca www.publiclegaled.bc.ca]. | |||
VictimLinkBC | ==Help for victims and witnesses== | ||
1 | Sometimes a victim of a crime needs help. There are people in most communities called victim support workers who can help you if you have witnessed a crime and you have to go to court. They can explain what will happen and what you have to do. They may also go with you to court. To connect with a victim services workers contact VictimLinkBC at 1-800-563-0808 or [http://www.victimlinkbc.ca www.victimlinkbc.ca]. | ||
==About this fact sheet== | ==About this fact sheet== | ||
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* [[About the Talking to the Police Fact Sheet|Acknowledgements]] | * [[About the Talking to the Police Fact Sheet|Acknowledgements]] | ||
{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2014}} | {{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2014}} | ||
{{Creative Commons for PLS | {{Creative Commons for PLS | ||
|title = Talking to the Police | |title = Talking to the Police | ||
|author = | |author = | ||
}} | }} |