A 20-year veteran corporal, one of the Kamloops RCMP detachment's watch commanders, was among a group of seven men who watched as two women had sex in police cells, police released Tuesday.

In a press release from Vancouver, RCMP Insp. Tim Shields confirmed what has been widely reported by media agencies across Canada — the group of Kamloops officers and civilian staff watched a closed video circuit for roughly seven minutes as the two women, prisoners in the same cell, engaged in what appeared to be consensual sex.

The women had been arrested in unrelated incidents — one for causing a disturbance, the other for being drunk in a public place. The police would not comment on media reports that one of the women is HIV positive.

The corporal was immediately placed on administrative duties, said Shields. The duty status of the three other officers — all constables with less than seven years experience — remains under review.
None of the officers were identified nor were the civilian staff.

The cell block CCTV system captured the entire incident involving the two women, Shields said, and it also clearly shows the RCMP and municipal employees present, in what order they arrived and how long they stayed.

“The video evidence is clear and will inform the criminal investigation process and be part of the information package forwarded to Crown counsel for their consideration regarding charge approval,” Shields said.

Meanwhile, in response to B.C. Civil Liberties Association allegations, Kamloops RCMP spokeswoman Const. Cheryl Bush reaffirmed that women prisoners are treated no differently than men in Kamloops jail cells.

It is possible, however, that women will spend more time in the spartan concrete and metal police cells because there are no provincial remand facilities in Kamloops for women, said Bush.

The RCMP is contracted by B.C. Corrections to provide remand services for women and youth. Men, on the other hand, are housed at the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre, a provincial jail properly equipped to house inmates for longer periods.

Bush said the Kamloops detachment takes exception to statements from the civil liberties group Monday that suggest men receive better treatment.

She said female prisoners in RCMP cells have the same opportunity as men to access showers and hygiene products. Clothing is offered to them if they need it as well, provided by the Elizabeth Fry Society. Neither men nor women are allowed visitors, except in exceptional circumstances

But women often end up spending longer in cells than men as they wait for court dates, trials and transfers to the women's prison in the Lower Mainland. In some cases, women who are here for a trial can spend several days — weeks even — in the cells, Bush agreed.
She would not give an opinion about whether the cells are sufficient for multi-day stays.

Bush toured reporters through the Kamloops detachment's cellblock. Each of the 11 cells is about three metres by three metres, made of concrete. There is a stainless steel sink and toilet in each cell. There is also a thin vinyl mattress on a concrete shelf. They are cleaned daily.
Food is brought in and mostly consists of fast food like subs or sandwiches. Prisoners do not have access to exercise facilities. They can be double bunked.

“The cell facilities at the Kamloops detachment are considered a holding facility only,” Bush said, adding women are moved to more appropriate remand facilities as soon as possible.

David Eby, the executive director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, said a proper remand centre for women and youth is required in a city like Kamloops.

“It's a no-brainer,” he said. “There is a need for women's facilities, either at the RCMP detachment or elsewhere. You need to have women guarding women, they need to have regular access to showers.”

Eby said it was the Elizabeth Fry Society that expressed concerns about holding women in the Kamloops RCMP cells to the BCCLA.
“I don't think E. Fry is making it up,” he said.

Kamloops Elizabeth Fry representatives could not be reached. The organization is an advocacy group that speaks for the rights of women prisoners.

The government has no plans to build remand facilities for women in Kamloops, according to B.C. Corrections.

Most communities do not have dedicated remand facilities for women. The justice system tries to minimize the amount of time women spend in police cells by having them appear in court by way of video link whenever possible.