The Traffic Stop Race Data Collection Project (TSRDCP) is the result of an agreement between the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) and the Ottawa Police Services Board. Officers will record their perception of driver race (by observation only) at traffic stops for a two-year period from June 27th, 2013 to June 27, 2015.
The largest study of its kind in Canada, the OHRC and the OPS believe that race-based data collection is an important tool to support bias-free policing services.
Let’s Chat Session
As part of the plan to promote understanding of racial profiling and the TSRDCP, the police service and the Board hosted another Let’s Chat engagement session on February 6th, 2014 at the R.A. Centre. The event was well attended by over 150 participants.
Purpose & Objectives
To continue the dialogue about bias free policing and racial profiling by:
- Providing an overview of how the police and community are working together to address racial bias and racial profiling concerns (story about collective action and asking for feedback);
- Providing an update on the TSRDCP project and asking for feedback (increase awareness and understanding about this recent collective effort to address racial profiling);
- Providing another opportunity for the community and police to drive this made in Ottawa project (what will the report look like and how will we create it together).
Summary of Discussion Themes
Through two rounds of table chat discussions, community members shared their perspectives and insights to better understand the project and issues of racial profiling. These discussions were recorded and sorted into themes.
Addressing Racial Profiling Together – Collective Action
Discussion Questions:
What are your thoughts about what has been done to contribute to bias-free policing?
What else can we do together to address concerns about racial profiling?
· There is substantial work being done in Ottawa; however, there is a lack of awareness about it.
· These different approaches need to continue to address a complex societal issue.
· Ongoing efforts need to continue to create more understanding and should focus on:
o Two-way dialogue and relationship building.
o More community-police engagement at the front-line/neighbourhood level.
o More community-police events/activities.
o Enhancing COMPAC’s role and outreach responsibilities.
o Community-police engagement with youth.
· Diversity training for officers is important and needs to continue throughout their careers and at all levels.
· Hiring practices should value cultural competencies and diversity experiences.
Update on the Traffic Stop Race Data Collection Project
Discussion Questions
What would you like to see addressed in the final report?
· In addition to the data, the report should contain:
o Project Description and Background
o Data Collection Process
o Data Fields
o Methodology
o Consultation efforts
o Listing of Partners/Committees
o Results and Limitations
o Recommendations/Action Plan
o Stories/Interviews with Community and Police Members
o Whether Data Collection Will Continue
· The report should be accessible and available in user-friendly formats:
o Easy to read for general public
o Available in different languages
o Accessible in multiple formats including online at ottawapolice.ca/race
How can we work together to prepare for the final report?
· Continue Engagement – obtain feedback during the data collection and drafting process of the report
o Utilize community-police committees (COMPAC and project advisory committee)
o Conduct meetings/events/Let’s Chat Session before report is released
o Obtain feedback on draft recommendations
· Plan for the release of the report
o Public release event/Let’s Chat Session
o Conduct presentations
o Encourage COMPAC and other community leaders to share/present the report
At the conclusion of this project in 2015, how will you know that it has been a useful process?
· Greater awareness about racial profiling.
· Increased dialogue about racial profiling.
· Improved relationships between OPS and community.
· Reduction of racial profiling.
· Community-Police dialogue continues post 2015.
· Wide distribution of results.
· Report leads to action.
The Engagement Continues…
The input from community and the police members has been instrumental in this project’s advancement. In addition to shaping the project design, the ongoing consultation has fostered a stronger understanding of the project and a dialogue on the issues related to the study.
One of the key outcomes from these efforts is the importance of continuing engagement about the project and racial profiling during the two-year data collection period. Like the first phase of the project, the police service is committed to continuing the engagement activities with project partners, community and police members throughout the project.
Information, updates and opportunities to stay involved are available online at ottawapolice.ca/race.
