SPECIAL BOARD MEETING ON POLICE STREET CHECKS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2013

In recent months, the Toronto Police Services Board has been reviewing the issue of “street checks” conducted by the police (also referred to as “carding” or the provision of contact cards) and has heard concerns raised by the community about racial profiling related to this practice.
At its meeting of October 7, 2013, the Board again discussed this issue and approved a motion to hold a special public Board meeting dedicated to soliciting community input.
As a result, the Board will hold a special public Board meeting on:
Monday November 18, 2013 at 5:00PM
Toronto City Hall (100 Queen Street West)
Council Chambers

The meeting will be based on two documents: (1) the Police and Community Engagement Review (PACER) Report presented by Chief Blair to the Board at its meeting of October 7, 2013 and (2) a report prepared by Chair Mukherjee on the issue of police carding and racial profiling.

An agenda, with links to both documents, will be posted on November 11, 2013.

Specifically, the Board is interested in hearing answers to questions such as the following:
•What are the parameters that should be placed on the practice of street checks and/or community engagement?
•What are reasonable justifications for this practice?
•What tools can be imposed to ensure that street checks are being conducted only when appropriate and justified?
•What is the appropriate retention period for information obtained through such a practice?
•How can the Board ensure that the community plays a meaningful and ongoing role in evaluating this practice and providing feedback to the Board and the Service?

The Board will consider the input received from the community at this meeting in its development of a policy governing street checks. It is anticipated that this draft policy would be placed on the Board’s public agenda at a meeting in early 2014.

Deputations at the special meeting will be limited to 5 minutes in length; to sign up to make a deputation, please contact Sheri Fulton at sheri.fulton@tpsb.ca or by phone at 416-808-8089. In addition, written submissions may be provided by email to this address.