New Report Finds Differences in How Torontonians Perceive the Police

By Neil Armstrong

Photo credit: Francine Buchner   Dr. Gervan Fearon, co-author of the report 'Perceptions of the Toronto Police and Impact of Rule Changes Under Regulation 58/16: A Community Survey'

A new report on public perceptions of the Toronto Police Service (TPS) has found underlying demographic differences in how Torontonians view the police.

Written by academics, Dr. Gervan Fearon and Dr. Carlyle Farrell, the report entitled "Perceptions of the Toronto Police and Impact of Rule Changes Under Regulation 58/16: A Community Survey" was presented at the May 30 meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB).

It presents the results of a baseline community survey undertaken in the City of Toronto on behalf of the Police and Community Engagement Review (PACER) Committee of the TPSB.

The purpose of the survey was to examine public perceptions of the TPS and to better understand the community’s views on issues such as racial profiling, bias in policing and public trust in the city’s law enforcement officers.

Among its five recommendations, the report says differences in perception of the police between the various demographic groups in the city need to be narrowed.

“For example Blacks and some other minority groups clearly do not view the city’s law enforcement officers in the same light as their White/Caucasian peers. Bridging these differences whether through more effective engagement in marginalized communities, better public messaging or other approaches, will be of tremendous societal benefit.”

Another recommendation notes that with respect to carding the community appears to be hopeful that the new legislation [Regulation 58/16] will bring about meaningful change.

“There is clearly a foundation in place on which to build a true partnership between the police and the community. It is essential that this goodwill not be squandered. The establishment of a permanent standing committee of the TPSB with a mandate to provide advice on police-community relations on an ongoing basis may well pay dividends for the city,” notes the report.

The survey also attempted to assess the extent to which residents of Toronto are satisfied with the service delivered by their police officers.

In addition, the research focused on the practice of regulated interactions, i.e. carding or street checks, and sought to better understand the perspective of Toronto residents on this often contentious issue.

The extent to which Torontonians are supportive of street checks is examined, as well as the impact that the practice has on the community’s perception of its law enforcement officers.

The study also evaluates the public’s awareness of the basic tenets of Ontario Regulation 58/16 which came into force on January 1, 2017 and now governs the practice of regulated interaction.

The survey involved in-depth personal interviews of 1,517 individuals using a structured questionnaire and was undertaken over a two-month period (November-December, 2017) in various locations across the city.

The report also recommends that the TPSB should consider the establishment of a separate office to adjudicate complaints from citizens that stem from the implementation of Ontario Regulation 58/16.

“There is skepticism that bias on the part of police officers can be effectively eliminated with the implementation of new legislation. The establishment of an office, which is independent of the TPS, to adjudicate complaints may allay the fears of some community members that their rights may still be violated despite the new rules,” notes the recommendation.

Photo contributed     Dr. Carlyle Farrell, co-author of of the report 'Perceptions of the Toronto Police and Impact of Rule Changes Under Regulation 58/16: A Community Survey'

In its response the TPSB said the need for a community survey of this kind was first identified through the PACER Advisory Committee, the Police and Community Engagement Review “that focused on how we can best provide fair and bias-free policing in a way that meets the needs and expectations of the public.”

The Board said it took up that recommendation, championing the importance of conducting a community survey as a key priority, and funded it through
its Special Fund.

It said it also supported the importance of the development of a Know Your Rights public education campaign, another key PACER recommendation.

“What we learn from this community survey is critical and must be listened to carefully. It is so important that we continue to have a dynamic and comprehensive conversation around this topic – it must be both transparent, informed by community voices, as well as data-driven. We take the findings of the report seriously, as it relays to us the lived experiences of people who bring forward a perspective on community and policerelations that we need to incorporate into our policy-making and our operational planning,” said the TPSB.

The Board says it continues to be guided by what lies at the core of its modernization philosophy: “we are dedicated to delivering police services, in partnership with our communities, to keep Toronto the best and safest place to be.”

In their report, Drs. Fearon and Farrell said it needed to be strongly emphasized at the onset that while many of these overall metrics may be positive they mask important underlying demographic differences that must be highlighted.

For example, while 65% of the city’s population believe that Toronto police officers can be trusted to treat members of their ethnic group fairly the result for blacks is only 26%.

While 72% of the population believe that Toronto police act with integrity only 50% of blacks were in agreement. Similarly while 68% of Torontonians believe that officers are honest only 41% of blacks and 53% of Indigenous respondents were able to support that position.

[This story has been published in the North American Weekly Gleaner, June 13-19, 2019.]