SIRT NL Director Michael King says although residents have a privacy interest in their own home, threats to life, which more directly engage the values of dignity, integrity and autonomy, take priority and justify the minimal state intrusion of police entering a home to investigate a potential emergency.
The province’s top police watchdog has ruled that there is no reasonable grounds two RCMP officers committed an offence by entering a Mt. Moriah residence early in the morning of June 5th. Even though they went into the wrong house. SIRT NL Director Michael King says although residents have a privacy interest in their own home, threats to life, which more directly engage the values of dignity, integrity and autonomy, take priority and justify the minimal state intrusion of police entering a home to investigate a potential emergency. He says in this case, the officers had information that a youth was missing and had sent a concerning text that she was not feeling well. As well, King says officers were trying to determine the whereabouts of a missing youth who may be in distress – was consistent and corroborated by the statement of the group home worker who reported the youth missing. King says it is unfortunate the information provided to the officers was inaccurate, leading them to enter the wrong house. He says he can understand the dismay this caused to the residents. King says having said that, the officers were clearly acting with the best intentions based upon the best information they had at the time. No charges will be laid.
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