(July 16, 2021) – PC Opposition Leader David Brazil says he is disturbed to read the latest report from the Child and Youth Advocate which details an incident where a seven-year-old child was placed in handcuffs by a member of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.

“When children are in a mental health or behavioral crisis, the last thing they need is to be handcuffed. I’m shocked that this tactic would be used by a police officer in our community on a youth facing trauma,” said Brazil.

“I couldn’t agree more with Ms. Lake Kavanagh when she says ‘young children need help, not handcuffs.’”

The report outlines two recommendations to help prevent this situation from happening again. One is for a review and revision of training for Mobile Crisis Response Teams to be able to better respond to children and youth in crisis and for government to engage with regional health authorities and both police departments to determine the scope and intent of Mental Health Crisis Response Teams.

“I call on Minister Hogan to provide timelines for the implementation of these recommendations. Ms. Lake Kavanagh’s recommendations are clear, now it’s up to the Minister to take action to ensure these recommendations are implemented as quickly as possible,” said Brazil.

“We cannot accept that the youth in question consented to being placed in handcuffs, as the Chief of Police has suggested in recent media interviews. A child that young cannot consent, by definition. We have to do better for our children and our communities. The answer is never handcuffs.”

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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca