Quebec police watchdog to investigate all complaints made by Indigenous people

Quebec's public security minister has announced a change to the way complaints against police made by Indigenous people will be investigated.

Starting Sept. 17, anycriminal allegationsmadeagainstpoliceofficers where the alleged victim or complainant is Indigenous will betaken over by Quebec's police watchdog the independent investigations bureau (BEI).

This will mean thecreation of a special investigation unit within the BEI and the hiring of an aboriginal liaison officer who willfollow up with complainants and victimsand refer them toresources.

The news comes in the wake of the 2015 allegations made by Indigenous women in the Val-d'Or areawho said they had been sexually assaulted by police.

Thirty-seven women came forward to file official complaints. None led to any criminal charges.

Thebureaubegan operating in June 2016 with a mission to conduct independent investigations whenever a civilian is seriously injured by a police officer's firearm, or dies as a result of a police intervention or while being detained.

Public Security Minister MartinCoiteuxannounced last year that theBEIwould handle all complaints of criminal sexual offences against police.