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The London Police Service Board (LPSB) has adopted a Critical Points Policy as a significant step toward strengthening police governance and public accountability. Drawing on the lessons of the Honourable John W. Morden’s 2012 report from the Independent Civilian Review into Matters Relating to the G20 Summit (Morden Report), this policy represents a shift toward more informed, responsive, and collaborative civilian oversight during periods of heightened organizational risk. Ontario’s Inspector General of Policing has also emphasized in an Advisory Bulletin regarding Critical Points that this policy is an essential piece of a modernized approach to oversight.
What Happened at the G20 Summit
The 2010 G20 Summit in Toronto was one of the largest security operations in Canadian history, involving multiple levels of policing and extensive planning. Over the summit weekend, more than 1,100 people were arrested, prompting widespread concern about civil liberties, police accountability, and transparency. In response, the Toronto Police Service Board (TPSB) commissioned an independent review led by the Honourable John W. Morden. His report found that the TPSB had not fulfilled its governance responsibilities during this critical period and stressed that police service boards must remain actively engaged before, during, and after major events to provide effective civilian oversight.
Justice Morden concluded that while police service boards cannot direct operational decisions, they must be equipped with the information needed to set objectives, ask essential questions, and ensure that policing reflects public values and expectations.
In January 2025, the Toronto Police Service Board approved Ontario’s first Critical Points Policy. The Inspector General later highlighted the TPSB’s policy in Advisory Bulletin #3 as a leading example of modern police governance and encouraged municipal police services boards across the province to adopt similar policies.
Definition of a Critical Point
A “Critical Point” is defined as a matter of strategic significance that is time-sensitive, and which rapidly elevates the Board’s operational, financial, reputational or other enterprise risk, and, therefore, calls for the Board’s immediate attention and/or preparedness to act. Examples include:
- Large-scale or high-impact operations
- Events affecting vulnerable or marginalized communities
- Major public safety incidents, such as mass casualty events or SIU-invoked investigations
- Systemic workplace complaints or legal findings
- Incidents likely to draw significant public or media scrutiny
The Policy
The policy centers around a comprehensive information-sharing process. It requires the Chief of Police to inform the Board Chair when a Critical Point is identified, sharing vital details, including risks, operational plans, legislative implications, and potential financial impacts. The Board, in turn, can determine whether to call a special meeting, amend policies, or set specific objectives to guide the Service.
Importantly, the policy respects the Chief’s operational autonomy. Once the Board has set priorities and received necessary information, the Chief retains the authority to determine how to achieve those outcomes.
Subject to operational constraints, the Board also commits to publicly disclosing information about Critical Points whenever it is safe and appropriate to do so. This promotes transparency and helps foster trust between the police service and the communities it serves.
By implementing it locally, the London Police Service Board joins a growing number of police service boards across the province who have built on the model established by the Toronto Police Services Board and respond to the Inspector General’s call for municipal boards to adopt Critical Points Policies.
Contact
For more information about the Critical Points Policy and its implementation, please visit the Board’s governance policy section or contact the LPSB office directly via email at lpsb@lpsb.ca
Sources
- The Independent Civilian Review into Matters Relating to the G20 Summit, by the Honourable John W. Morden
- Inspector General Memo and Advisory Bulletin #3 on Municipal Police Service Board Policy on Critical Points
- London Police Service Board Critical Points Policy
As the London Police Service Board (the Board) begins the critical work of shaping our next Strategic Plan, we will ensure that this process is both thoughtful and inclusive.
Inclusive governance goes beyond checking boxes on representation. In today’s policing landscape, it means building a workplace that reflects the whole community. Race, gender, lived experiences, age, ability, culture, socioeconomic background, and the many intersecting identities that shape how people experience safety and policing are included in what it means for the London Police Service (LPS) to be reflective of the community.
Attending a Board meeting is an excellent way to stay informed, and to better understand how policing is shaped at the governance level.
The London Police Service (LPS) has formally taken the 30 Forward pledge, joining a growing network of agencies committed to equity, fairness, and stronger public service. On May 5, 2025, the LPS launched its public campaign in support of 30 Forward continuing efforts to remove barriers for women in policing through improved data collection, enhanced community outreach, and increased internal engagement.
