ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Newfoundland and Labrador’s Justice Department has formed a team to review policing services in the province.

The Policing Transformation Working Group is composed of four people who will look into issues such as diversity within the ranks and the relationships between officers and marginalized communities.

Justice Minister John Hogan told reporters today that a thorough review of policing in Newfoundland and Labrador hasn’t been done in “quite some time.”

The RCMP has jurisdiction over much of rural Newfoundland and parts of Labrador, while the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary oversees the Northeast Avalon, which includes St. John’s.

St. John’s lawyer Lynn Moore represents several women, including a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer, in two civil lawsuits alleging they were sexually assaulted by members of the force.

Moore said in an interview that policing needs a solid review, but that she would have more faith in the team announced today if it included community members instead of only government and policing officials.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 20, 2023.

The Canadian Press