The province’s top court said Wednesday that more than 1,000 people who were detained by police in Toronto during the G20 summit in 2010 can sue Toronto Police and others through class action.

In its decision, the Ontario Court of Appeal said that class actions are appropriate and would provide strong remedies, agreeing that police cannot sweep people up in the hopes one of them may have done something criminal.

It added that various reports on the events to date had made only non-binding recommendations.

“The remedies sought by the plaintiffs, which include a declaration that class members’ charter rights have been violated and an award of damages, would be stronger instruments of behaviour modification,” said the court in its decision.

The court approved two G20 class actions over alleged ‘kettling’ and civil rights abuses that happened during the summit nearly six years ago.

The group is made up of people from five separate crowds that were corralled by riot squad officers, mass-arrested and then held in appalling conditions at a makeshift detention centre during the summit. Almost all were released without charge within 24 hours.

The courts had originally ruled against certifying a class action, but Divisional Court overturned the ruling on initial appeal and instead split the action in two.

The lawyers for the plaintiffs say a class action would help protect the basic freedoms of all Canadians.

To date, only 16 people have brought claims for their detentions, and 15 of those have been settled, the court said.