TORONTO – A majority of Toronto police officers in the Jane and Finch area are ignoring new “carding” practices approved by the Toronto Police Services Board earlier this year.
A report in the Toronto Star says a survey conducted by a non-profit consulting organization hired by the board reveals that two-thirds of youth and young adults in the community feel officers continue to stop them without a valid reason.
The Community Assessment of Police Practices survey also indicates more than 60 per cent of respondents felt police encounters were prolonged to get more information and that there still exists a deep dissatisfaction with officers.
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Dishonesty and unfair practices were mentioned as factors for the high level of mistrust with police.
But officers are still carding in part because they haven’t received procedures on what else to do.
“The way that this works is that the board approves a policy and then the chief develops procedures which officers are required to implement. The procedures are still a work in progress,” says Dr. Alok Mukherjee, the chair of the Toronto Police Services Board.
The police services board told Chief Bill Blair he had to come up with a clear definition of what does or does not constitute carding – that hasn’t been done yet.
Mukherjee did say, however, policies should be implemented within a “reasonable” time frame.
“This policy was approved in April, it’s now middle of November, so I expect the board will want to get some answer.”
Mike McCormack, the president of the Toronto Police Association, wouldn’t comment on the specifics of the report when asked Wednesday.
He did say the officers in the community do “a great job” and said homicides near Jane Street and Finch Avenue have decreased significantly over the last year.
The board revamped the force’s “carding” policy last April to ensure compliance with human rights laws, such as the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Ontario Human Rights Code and municipal laws.
The policy further outlined training, supervision and reporting guidelines required for the Chief of Police to establish.
The board is expected to discuss the report at a meeting on Thursday.
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