Police seek public input on collecting race and identity data in Mississauga and Brampton

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Published January 24, 2023 at 12:10 pm

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Police need the public’s input in consultations on collecting and reporting race and identity-based data in Mississauga and Brampton.

A report last year found Peel Regional Police used force on Black people 3.2 times more than their share of the population. While Black civilians currently make up 9.9 per cent of Peel’s population (according to 2016 census data), they accounted for 32 per cent of use of force incidents in 2021, a decrease from 35 per cent in 2020.

These findings make gathering race and identity based data important in combating systemic racism. In 2018, the provincial government mandated all public sector organizations, which include police services, to collect and report on race-based data.

Peel police announced today (Jan. 24), they will host a series of public consultations beginning in February.

The consultations are part of the ongoing effort to identify systemic racism, racial disparities, and improve outcomes for community members, police said.

During the sessions, people can learn about the legal requirements for collecting and reporting race and identity-based data and to provide feedback on how this may be achieved.

The consultations will include:

  • an overview of Peel Regional Police’s Race and Identity Based Data Strategy and context on the value of collecting race and identity data.
  • completion of a survey to help guide the critical work.

“We’re proud to work alongside leading academic experts and the OHRC (Ontario Human Rights Commission) to create a multi-year organizational strategy that will be implemented in phases over time,” says Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah.

“This strategy is a key component to helping us achieve our goals and develop best practices in data collection, analysis and communication of information with our diverse communities, including our internal members.”

To participate in the consultations, register here: www.peelpolice.ca/communityconsultations. There will be both online and in-person evening sessions.

The consultations come with other recent initiatives including the Governance and Human Rights Committee, which started in October 2022 and engaging University of Toronto associate professor Akwasi Owusu-Bempah to assist the committee in its ongoing efforts to address systemic racism, specifically anti-Black racism, from the perspective of police governance and oversight.

For more information see the police Human Rights Project or the Frequently Asked Questions.

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