On April
24, 2014, the Toronto Police Services Board approved an innovative and
wide-ranging policy on
Community Contacts (also referred to as “street checks” or “carding”). This policy provides a rights-based approach
to police-community conversations with significant Board oversight and
accountability mechanisms. The policy,
developed after extensive public consultation, can be viewed on the Board’s
website, www.tpsb.ca.
A
unique feature of the policy is the provision of a regular survey of community
satisfaction to measure and determine the impact of the practices flowing from
it on public trust and satisfaction with policing. The Board will invite community-based
organizations working with researchers who have expertise in Participatory
Action Research (PAR) to carry out these surveys. The first such project will
be a proposed survey in 31 Division. The
Board has allocated $75,000 from its Special Fund to fund this survey.
The
Board invites proposals from community-based organizations to develop and carry
out a survey to determine public satisfaction with police-community contacts in
31 Division during June-August 2014. A link to the proposal document can be found by clicking here.
A
public information session will be held on Tuesday
May 27, 2014 from 4-5 PM, during which time Board members will be available
to explain the initiative and answer questions.
The session will be held in the Auditorium, second floor, Toronto Police
Headquarters, 40 College Street.
