• May 23, 2013 - update : The Update Report & presentation for Traffic Stop Race Data Collection Project will made at the Ottawa Police Services Board meeting, May 27 
• May 3, 2013 - Testing Phase
• Handout card (PDF)
• March 11, 2013  
• December 13, 2012
• November 30, 2012

 

The 'Let’s Chat: Have your Say' Community Consultation was held on Thursday Jan. 31, 2013 at the RA Centre 2451 Riverside Dr., Ottawa with a total of 165 participants.

The Purpose of the Consultation Session was:

-To raise awareness of the Traffic Stop Race Data Collection Project.

-To provide a forum for the community to ask questions, raise concerns and provide their input to the development of the project.

• Project Timeline and Consultation Questions (PDF)
• Presentation from York University Research Team (PDF)
• Racial Categories from York University Research Team (PDF)
• Graphic Report: Mural 1 (PDF)
• Graphic Report: Mural 2 (PDF)

 

On January 23, a Twitter (@OttawaPolice  #RaceData) was held from 6-8pm. It gave participants the opportunity to have their say, ask questions, and find out more about the project.

Monday, December 17th 2012 : Project Update and Consultation Activities

Find out about the York University Research Team to assist with Traffic Stop Race Data Collection Project

Starting June 27^th 2013, OPS officers will record their perception of driver race using the existing in-car computer system, as part of the regular process used for conducting traffic stops.

 

The categories of race have been developed with the Research Team in consultation with the OHRC and community partners and are consistent with current policing practices.  The recording of perception will be conducted in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and applicable privacy legislation.

 

The collection process has been designed to have minimal impact on regular duties and will not be noticeable to drivers. Drivers will not be asked to self-identify their own race. 

 

The data will be made available to the OHRC at the conclusion of the two-year data collection period following the extraction and de-identification of the data. It will also be available publicly on ottawapolice.ca/race.  In consultation with the Research Team, the data will be limited to relevant information required for analysis and will have no personal identifiers attached of either the driver or the officer.

Answer:  The Project is the result of a settlement agreement between the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) and the Ottawa Police Services Board (OPSB).  As per the agreement, officers will record their perception of driver race at traffic stops for a two-year period.

Answer:  In addition to continuing our ongoing work to ensure bias-free policing, the OPS is looking to continue to promote trust and confidence in the police by addressing community concerns about racial profiling.

Through this project, the OPS can continue its commitment to openness and accountability, while advancing the study of race-based data collection, and use the learnings and recommendations to strengthen service to the community.

Answer:  As perception and stereotyping are at the heart of racial profiling, the focus of the Project is of the perception of race that police officers have.  A person’s self identification of race is not relevant to this study. The purpose of the study is to determine the perception of the officer and if it contributes to officer conduct.

To learn more about racial profiling and the OPS’ policy on racial profiling, please visit the OPS Traffic Stop Data Collection Project website at ottawapolice.ca/race.  Moreover, please visit the OHRC’s website (www.ohrc.on.ca) to view the OHRC’s Policy and Guidelines on Racism and Racial discrimination and the OHRC’s inquiry report Paying the Price: The Human Cost of Racial profiling.

To learn more about the collection of human rights-based data, please visit the OHRC’s website to view its guide Collecting Human Rights-Based Data: Count Me In!

Answer:  The categories of race have been developed in consultation with communities and are consistent with current policing practices. The categories that will be used for the study are: Aboriginal Peoples; White; Black; East Asian, Southeast Asian; South Asian; Middle Eastern; and other racialized communities. For more information about the categories and how they were chosen, visit ottawapolice.ca/race.

Answer:  Collecting and analyzing human rights-based data will be conducted in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and applicable privacy legislation.

Answer:  It will be made available to the Ontario Human Rights Commission at the conclusion of the two-year data collection period.  The data will be limited to relevant information required for analysis.

Answer:  If asked, officers can provide an answer as to what observational data was recorded (race, reason for stop) during the traffic stop. 

Questions about the collection of personal information in connection with the project should be directed to ottawapolice.ca/race or 613-236-1222, Ext.5586.

Answer:  Permission is not required as the focus of the Project is officer perception of the driver’s race in traffic stops.

The settlement agreement between the OHRC and the OPSB specifically states that the collection of the race-based data by officers will take place during all traffic (vehicle) stops.

Over 50,000 traffic stops are conducted each year. The research team, the OHRC and the OPS agree that this data will provide us with a suitable sampling for the purpose of the project. It will be the largest and longest study of its type ever conducted in Canada.

As per the settlement agreement, the race-based data collected will not be used for the purpose of discipline or performance evaluation of its officers.

The OPS firmly believes that everyone has the right to live and work in an environment that is free of police action based on racial bias or racial profiling. The OPS has been a leader in raising awareness around this issue and continues to work with the community and train its members.

In August of 2011, the OPS was the first police service in Canada to introduce a Racial Profiling Policy. The policy was created in consultation with both police and community groups to act as a guide in ensuring bias-free policing.

For more information on the Racial Profiling Policy, visit the Let's Chat About Racial Profiling page.