A civilian policing watchdog is launching an investigation into the conduct of RCMP officers in northern B.C. who have been accused of mistreating aboriginal girls and women.

The Commission for Public Complaints against the RCMP announced the probe on Thursday after the federal government asked it to review a damning report by Human Rights Watch. Released in February, the document contains unproven allegations by women and girls who say they were physically or sexually abused by police.

The commission announced in a statement on its website that the probe will examine how RCMP officers handled: instances of public intoxication, cross-gender police searches, missing persons reports, domestic violence reports, use of force questions, and files involving youth.

The commission, an independent agency created by the federal government, will look at whether officers followed RCMP policies, acted thoroughly and impartially in their duties, and avoided any conflict of interest.

The probe will also examine whether existing RCMP rules and training are adequate.

The Vancouver-based group Justice for Girls was the catalyst for the report. In 2011, it asked Human Rights Watch, a respected New York-based agency, to investigate long-standing concerns about degrading police treatment of aboriginal girls in the north, ranging from excessive force to rape.

On Thursday, Justice for Girls director Asia Czapska questioned the independence of the commission, alleging that past investigations showed "a lack of respect" to women.

"Based on the track record of the commission, we really have no faith that they will do this investigation properly or independently," she said.

Czapska echoed a recommendation in the report for the federal and B.C. governments to strike a national commission of inquiry into alleged abuse of aboriginal girls and women by some RCMP members. Ottawa has made no comment on a possible inquiry, she added.

The report did not name the victims, who fear retribution. Police say that has made it difficult to look into the accusations, and are appealing to Human Rights Watch and victims for more information.

"The RCMP continues to emphasize the seriousness of allegations of police misconduct," said RCMP spokesman Sgt. Rob Vermeulen. "We continue to look for opportunities that might assist in identifying any of the girls or women who made the allegations. If individuals are aware of specific allegations of police brutality, they need to bring them forward."

A handful of the cases cited in the report are already under investigation by police:

- A 17-year-old Williams Lake girl being repeatedly punched in the back of a police car. The officer was charged with assault.

- A 15-year-old Prince Rupert girl whose arm was broken after an officer was called to her home. Delta police were asked to do an external investigation.

- A 12-year-old Prince George girl badly bitten by a police dog. New Westminster police were asked to do an external investigation.

The report also alleged the RCMP is failing to protect native women and girls, including in the infamous Highway of Tears case, in which 18 victims have disappeared or been murdered along three Northern B.C. highways.

No timeline for the completion of the commission's investigation was given.

lculbert@vancouversun.com