Knowing your civil rights at a crime scene
Posted July 5, 2010 6:27 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The events leading to Robert Dziekanski’s death at YVR were caught on amateur video. The incident has sparked a lot of discussion about the role of civilian cameras, especially, in cases involving the actions of police.
So, either capturing a snapshot or rolling on a crime scene, you should know your rights.
Just because you’re on the right side of the tape, Surrey RCMP Constable Peter Neily explains you could still be approached by attending officers. “If there is a serious incident where there is a suspect still outstanding or we’ve had a situation where we know people may come back and try to collect information related to the investigation, then they’ll ask for your information.”
Neily adds police may even ask standard questions like, “Did you witness anything here?”
He says if your information is taken as a witness, it will be added to the case file. Ultimately, Neily says, if you are compelled to photograph a crime scene, as long as you’re not crossing the police line, you are within your rights.
