The Kamloops RCMP and the City of Kamloops are looking for solutions to policing resource strains that stem from the R-Versus-Jordan Supreme Court decision in 2016.

Superintendent Syd Lecky says the detachment has a logjam to be able to get packages out for the Crown to consider charges.

“That is a challenge for us, in terms of being able to get those very highly-complex investigations, which require a lot of digital information – now in the modern day – transcribed, downloaded and repackaged and formatted. One of the areas that’s been a pressure for us is to get those packages out the door.”

The Jordan decision now means a criminal trial in provincial court can be thrown out if it isn’t finished within 18 months of charges being laid, and 30 months for a supreme court trial.

Lecky says the Jordan decision is a “game-changer” for police, and says it has had a profound impact on data being submitted to the Crown to recommend charges.

“We have been in discussion with the city, and the city is very supportive and we’re currently looking at some solutions for that, which I think we’ll be able to reach before long. Because right now, that’s one of our logjams is trying to get a package out to Crown to be able to process. And Crown has their own challenges, because of the sheer volume of information they’ve got. It delays everything.”

Lecky says more now, suspects arrested are released without charges; meaning not only is there more administrative work from the Jordan decision, but also more work on the street to apprehend suspects again after charges have been approved by the Crown.