Traffic Stop Project Progressing Well – 35,000 Traffic Stops Recorded

(Ottawa) An update to the Ottawa Police Services Board on the Traffic Stop Race Data Collection Project reports that the study is progressing well and is on track. The report, released today, will be considered by the Board on Monday night.

Since June 2013, Ottawa Police Service (OPS) officers have been collecting their perception of driver race (by observation only) at all traffic stops. Since becoming part of regular stop duties, officers have recorded 35,000 traffic stops – a number that is in line with the last two years of traffic stops.

The recorded data will be analyzed after the two-year study period is complete.

“We are pleased with the progress of the study and are very confident about the reliability of the data,” said Dr. Lesley Jacobs, a member of the York University Research Team that is leading the study.

The report to the Board provides an update on the data collection, quality control measures, and the ongoing engagement plans for the collection period.

“We continue to work with police and community members, the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and the York Research Team to improve the project and discuss how we can analyze the data in the future,” said Insp. Pat Flanagan, project lead for the OPS.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) and York Research Team agree that significant quality assurance measures have been taken to help ensure meaningful data collection.

“Race-based data collection is an important tool that can help police both respond to allegations of racial profiling and provide bias-free services,” said OHRC Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall. “This in turn can lead to stronger relationships between the OPS and the many communities they serve.”

OPS continues to collaborate with partners to build on the community-police dialogue strengthened by this project. One of the first opportunities to do that is at the Let’s Chat Session on February 6th.

Community members are invited to join the ongoing conversation about racial profiling and the next

phase of the Traffic Stop Race Data Collection Project taking place on Thursday, February 6th, from 6:00 to 9:00pm at the RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive. To register, please visit ottawapolice.ca/race.

The Traffic Stop Race Data Collection Project is the result of an agreement between the Ontario Human Rights Commission and the Ottawa Police Services Board. Officers will record their perception of driver race (by observation only) at traffic stops for a two-year period.

The largest study of its kind in Canada, the OHRC and the OPS believe that race-based data collection is an important tool to support bias-free policing services. Full information, updates and opportunities to stay engaged are available online at ottawapolice.ca/race.

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