City eyes cell upgrade plan for police HQ

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This article was published 10/02/2021 (1414 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Construction could begin this fall on holding cells at the Winnipeg Police Service headquarters, following complaints the current facility lacks proper access to washrooms, among other issues.

A proposal to modify old cells and create new ones in the HQ’s central processing unit follows Manitoba Justice’s decision to end a practice that allowed prisoners to enter “direct lockup” at the Winnipeg Remand Centre without a judicial order.

Instead, arrested people who aren’t eligible for release must now be detained at the downtown WPS building until they see a judicial justice of the peace or provincial court judge.

WPS Chief Danny Smyth publicly opposed the direct lockup change last year, stating by June it had forced 100 detainees to wait more than 24 hours in small concrete rooms with no toilet, furniture or food.

Those spaces were designed for much shorter stays, Smyth said. “The risks associated with this and these people in our care are high,” he said at the time.

In December, WPS said wait times had fallen but cell upgrades were still needed.

A public service report released Wednesday says suspects are still being detained for lengthy periods, including some overnight stays.

Pending city council approval of the plan, Manitoba Justice will pay $3.5 million for the holding cell construction, which the report says would add “detention grade” walls, doors and finishes, along with some plumbing and CCTV upgrades.

In an emailed statement, a Manitoba Justice spokesperson said the work should ensure “the safe and appropriate treatment of those arrested and facing charges while in custody.”

Coun. Markus Chambers, chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board, said he also expects the project to ensure basic prisoner needs are met.

“We do have to ensure that they… are adequately fed, that there is access to washrooms, which includes access to hygiene products, like toothbrushes and toothpaste. Those are all going to be things that will be added to the central processing unit,” said Chambers.

The St. Norbert-Seine River councillor said many design details, such as how many new cells and bathrooms will be built, are still being worked out.

He said WPS will also permanently hire a paramedic to meet any medical needs of those who may now be in police custody for longer periods.

“There’s many instances where individuals are arrested that may have pre-existing health conditions or you don’t know what their state of well-being is, (such as) if they’re intoxicated… So it’s a matter of monitoring and making sure that their health and well-being is taken care of,” said Chambers.

In an emailed statement, the WPS did not answer how long suspects tend to be held in the current cells.

Police have adjusted staff schedules to address the issue, while WPS also has a food service agreement with the provincial remand centre, the statement says.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga