Blair has previously defended Toronto police policies on strip searches, saying the force has policies restricting and accounting for the use of strip searches, including requiring that officers videotape their orders to perform a strip search (the searches themselves are not videotaped). Despite a 15-year-old Supreme Court ruling declaring strip searches “inherently humiliating and degrading” and setting strict limits on when they can be performed, unlawful strip searches continue in Ontario — prompting tossed criminal charges, civil lawsuits and complaints to the province’s police watchdogs. But critics say Toronto officers have for too long been allowed to perform strip searches with unjustifiable frequency. The landmark ruling states strip searches can only be conducted when there are reasonable grounds, such as looking for evidence related to an arrest or weapons. A Toronto police spokesperson said Tuesday that the service would not be commenting on McNeilly’s announcement that he is launching a systemic review of strip searches.

Source: thestar July 26, 2016 22:18 UTC