Report shows ‘disproportionately higher incidents’ of force against Black, Indigenous and Middle Eastern people

A report for the Ottawa Police Services Board meeting scheduled for Monday, June 27 shows a 'disproportionately higher incidents' of force against Black, Indigenous and Middle Eastern people.

Highlights from the report showcase that:

• Individuals who were perceived by officers to be Black had force used against them 4.3 times more than what you would expect based on their segment of the population 
• Individuals who were perceived by officers to be Indigenous had force used against them three times more than what you would expect based on their segment of the population
• Individuals who were perceived by officers to be Middle Eastern had force used against them 2.2 times more than what you would expect based on their segment of the population
• Individuals who were perceived by officers to be white had force used against them at a rate significantly less than equivalent to their segment of the population

Robin Browne, the co-lead for the 613-819 Black Hub told The Sam Laprade Show on Monday, June 27 that he suspects that the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) will respond by saying it needs to do better. 

“That's what they said in 2013 when they released their traffic stop data by race,” he said. “Nothing has changed in nine years.”

Browne said the latest data shows even more reason to abolish the OPS. 

“Let's put money into things that will actually keep us safe,” he added. 

Listen to the full interview with Robin Browne below: