What is the role of the police in investigating possible crimes?
Alberta, Canada
The following excerpt is from Can v. Calgary Police Service, 2012 ABQB 340 (CanLII):
[72] McLachlin C.J.C. emphasized the role of the police in investigating possible crimes and their place on the spectrum. The function of police is to investigate incidents which might be criminal, make a conscientious and informed decision as to whether charges should be laid, and then present the full facts to the prosecutor. Although the police are required to weigh evidence to some extent in the course of an investigation: “they are not required to evaluate evidence according to legal standards or make legal judgments. That is the task of prosecutors, defence attorneys, and judges”: Hill v. Hamilton- Wentworth Regional Police Services Board, at paragraph 50.
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