Independent Investigations Office report recommends provincial review

An all-party committee reviewing B.C.'s civilian-ledpolice investigation agency, theIndependent Investigations Office,is calling for a provincial reviewfollowing internal complaints and high staff turnover.

The special committee, which was formed last year to examine the IIO,issued a report Monday calling for the Justice Ministry to closely review human resourcespractices at the office.

The committeeput forward a total of seven recommendations, including even more reviews.

"A lot of the folks have complained about the management style," said Mike Morris, the Liberal chair of the legislative committee, told CBC News.

"We have identified there are human resources issues that need to be rectified."

Morris recommends the Justice Ministry reportback in a yearabout how it has addressed the office's human resources issues.

HR issues, internal harassment

TheIIOwas founded in 2012 to investigate cases in whichpeople are seriously injured or killed by police officers.

But the organization has been plagued by HR problems and some employees have complained about internal harassment, which has led to high employee turnover.

Monday's report also recommends relaxing rules that prevent policeofficers who have been out of law enforcement for fewer than fiveyears from being appointed as investigators.

However,NDPcritic MikeFarnworthis not confident ofa speedy internal review.

"Changes to the Police Act were promised before 2015 and the fact is nothing has happened, so you are going to see even more of a delay and I predict even more than a year."