An independent review of actions taken by the municipality of Halifax and city police during evictions of homeless encampments that turned violent in 2021 says both parties made mistakes in their handling of the incident and should issue an apology.
The civilian review conducted by a team of Toronto-based lawyers was commissioned by Halifax in spring 2023, and came with 37 recommendations that will be presented to a Board of Police Commissioners meeting Wednesday.
More than a hundred protesters clashed with police on Aug. 18, 2021 as city officials forcibly cleared tents and wooden shelters at a homeless encampment downtown, with several demonstrators pepper sprayed and arrested.
The review says the event was traumatic for all involved, particularly “the unhoused who lived in encampments and were evicted from their homes; those who witnessed the evictions; the protesters who were subjected to police use of force, violence and pepper spray; and …