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Supreme Court rules public can sue police
Updated Thu. Oct. 4 2007 5:33 PM ET
CTV.ca News
A Supreme Court of Canada ruling could change the way police forces around the country conduct their investigations.
On Thursday, the court ruled 6-3 that police officers and forces can be sued for negligence.
Writing for the majority position, Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin stated that "police are not immune from liability under the law of negligence ... Police officers owe a duty of care to suspects."
The ruling went on to state that investigation standards must be measured against how a "reasonable officer" would act under similar circumstances.
"Police officers may be accountable for harm resulting to a suspect if they fail to meet this standard," according to the ruling.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071004/scc_negligence_071004/20071004?hub=Canada