Aboriginal women's complaints against Quebec police turned over to Crown

Quebec Crown prosecutors are now deciding whether to lay criminal charges as a result of a series of investigations into allegations of abuse of Aboriginal women by provincial police officers and, in some cases, members of other forces.

Montreal police were assigned to investigate the complaints of Aboriginalwomen across the provincelast year,afterRadio-Canada'sEnqute reportedallegations that SretduQubecofficers have physically and sexually abused Aboriginal women in the Val-d'Orregion for decades.

• Enquteinvestigation into Val-d'Or(English)
• Aboriginal women's claims of police sex abuse under investigation

The province's Director of Penal and CriminalProsecutions (DPCP) released a statement on Friday, saying Montreal police have handed over the results of multiple investigations.

A committee of experienced prosecutors will now analyze those cases, said DPCP spokesmanRenVerret.

"Now they will have to take the time necessary to decide if there will be accusations in this case," Verret said. "They'll have to analyze the evidence that was presented by the (Montreal) police."

• More aboriginal women allege abuse at hands of Quebec provincial police
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In some cases, Verret said, prosecutors may ask Montreal police to carry out additional interviewswith complainants and witnesses.

The Crown said it will make public its decisionas to whetherto pursue charges in each individual case and explain why.