Thursday, March 28, 2024

Timer

Hamilton carding policy

First Published:

[projekktor id=’25804′]

The police practice of carding, where an officer randomly stops an individual to collect information, has recently been under fire by the public. Following new provincial laws to change how the practice should be conducted, Hamilton Police are asking the community for their thoughts.

Some Hamiltonians who are part of visual minorities have become all too familiar with random police carding, but public backlash over the practice has seen Hamilton Police carding numbers plummet from over 1400 in 2013 down to 30 in 2015.

In accordance to a new provincial law that aims to improve public trust in police, the Hamilton Police board released a 6 page draft outlining the force’s new regulations to street checks. The policy starts by pledging that checks won’t be random or racially based. Police will be expected to hand citizens a receipt that includes their name, badge number and contact information. Lastly, an annual report will detail who exactly was questioned. The chair of the Community Coalition Against Racism, Ken Stone, says this is a step forward.

Stone added that he’d also like to see a citizen group release their own yearly report as well. He also thinks there are still some concerns with the new policies citing that there are ‘about 6 loopholes in the document’. In it, police don’t have to explain why they stopped someone if: it compromises an active investigation or puts someone’s safety at risk.

If that doesn’t sit well, police want your feedback.

More Top News

1 person in critical condition after house fire in Hamilton’s east end

One person has been hospitalized in critical condition after they were found without vital signs in a burning home in Hamilton’s east end Thursday...

Bullet casings confirm shooting occurred on Hamilton Mountain

The discovery of spent bullet casings has confirmed that a shooting took place on Hamilton Mountain late Tuesday, police say. Shortly after 8 p.m., officers...

Federal offender known to frequent Hamilton at large, again

The OPP are searching for a federal offender they say is known to frequent the Hamilton area. 31-year-old Daniel Hale is described as an Indigenous...

Four Ontario school boards sue Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok

Four of Ontario's largest school boards are suing the parent companies of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok alleging the social media platforms are disrupting...

No injuries after fire at Niagara’s Best Inn hotel

A fire at Niagara's Best Inn hotel broke out late Wednesday. Emergency crews were called out to the structure fire on Ferry Street around 10:30...

Man crashes car in Stoney Creek after fleeing traffic stop

A Hamilton man is facing charges after he allegedly tried to flee a traffic stop and then crashed his vehicle in the city's east...

1 person in critical condition after house fire in Hamilton’s east end

One person has been hospitalized in critical condition after they were found without vital signs in a burning home in Hamilton’s east end Thursday...