Pivot launches Olympic legal defence team 

Vancouver, February 11, 2010 – Pivot Legal Society announced this morning it will be operating an Olympic Legal Defence Team in response to the increased police presence around Vancouver for the 2010 Olympic Games.

See pdf of Olympic Rights Card

Starting today, Pivot will be providing a 24-hour hotline for residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) and protesters who need immediate legal advice, and will be giving free legal representation to those arrested and held in custody. 

“The aim of Pivot’s Olympic Legal Defence Team is to ensure that the police respect the legal rights of vulnerable and marginalized people during the Olympics.” explained Katrina Pacey, managing partner at Pivot Legal LLP. “Our hope is that Vancouver does not experience the legacy of human rights abuses that have accompanied Olympic games in the past.”

The 24-hour Olympic Hotline will be staffed by Pivot lawyers, and aims to lessen some of the fear circulating in the Downtown Eastside that residents will be targeted by police during the Games.

In addition to the Olympic Hotline, Pivot is releasing “Olympic Rights Cards” (attached) to DTES residents. Further,  a lawyer from the Olympic Legal Defence Team will be stationed every morning at the Vancouver courthouse throughout the period of the Olympics to assist individuals who are in jail. 

“At this point, it is uncertain what kind of an effect the increased police presence will have” said Doug King, one of the lawyers on Pivot’s Legal Defence Team, “but it is important that the residents know someone will be there to protect their rights.”

24-hour Olympic Hotline: tel. 604 724 9529

The legal team is:

Katrina Pacey, Nina Purewal, Doug King and Natalie Dunbar.