There are reports that the BC Courts have to close down due to 2010 Winter Games security needs.

AS A MATTER OF FACT...
The RCMP has been mandated to provide security at the 2010 Winter Games. The RCMP in British Columbia is the provincial police force and is responsible for providing for safe homes and safe communities in this province.

Optimal policing levels will be maintained to ensure safe and secure Games.

Continual assessment is being done on policing services during the Olympics, and measures have been implemented that actually strengthen resources in the communities policed by the RCMP during this period.

There are three strategies being implemented by the RCMP to ensure that public safety is the priority in the communities we serve and the Games we are mandated to protect.

1. All leave has been restricted across Canada.
2. All training for the RCMP has been restricted.
3. Court availability for RCMP officers in British Columbia has been updated.

It is standard practice for BC RCMP members to utilize a database called ‘JUSTIN’ to advise their availability for pending court appearances.

It is good management and an effective planning method to provide this information well in advance of the Games which will limit potential scheduling conflicts for all who work in the criminal justice system.

Once members have been identified for deployment to the Games, ‘JUSTIN’ will be modified to reflect availability.

It is a common practice in any jurisdiction that hosts Olympics to limit the scheduling of some court cases during Games time - similar to the kind of scheduling flexibility that is typical during peak holiday times like Christmas.

The RCMP is committed to ensuring all priority trials and imminent court duties are fulfilled.

The RCMP continues to work in partnership with the Province of British Columbia to ensure that the courts continue to provide service to all Canadians during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.