Race and Identity Based Data Collection Action Plan

• Recorded Video  
• Presentation - email us to request a copy of the presentation

•  Recorded Video
• Presentation - email us to request a copy of the presentation

 1. Why do you collect race- and identity-based data?

In 2018, Ontario legislated the Data Standards for the Identification and Monitoring of Systemic Racism. This legislation implores government institutions to collect race- and identity-based data as a method to eradicate systemic racism.

At WRPS, the RIBDCS assesses whether racial disparities exist in police data. If disparities do exist, we can investigate those trends further to assess how to eliminate systemic racism.

2. When do you collect this data?

We have been collecting RIBD since 2020. We collect this data in four selected interactions: Use of Force incidents, Search of Persons in Custody, Intelligence Notes, and Regulated Interactions. Each of these interactions has a corresponding form where officers can provide data on perceived race.

3. What is perceived race?

Officers do not ask individuals in police interactions to racially self-identify. As a result, they can only provide “perceived race” data, based on their own perception of the individual’s racial identity. When investigating systemic racism, we are focused on whether there are trends in how officers perceive individuals and any impacts on their outcomes.

4. Who is part of the Race- and Identity-Based Data Collection Strategy (RIBDCS)?

The Strategic Services and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Branches both support the RIBDCS. Members from these branches are experts in data analysis and EDI, respectively.

The work in this strategy is supported by our academic partners, Dr. Les Jacobs and Dr. Lorne Foster, who are both human rights experts and have supported similar strategies in police services across Ontario.

All officers receive training on how to fill out forms, including how to fill out the perceived race section. Additionally, forms are reviewed by Sergeants in corresponding divisions to ensure everything is being filled out correctly.

Since WRPS started collecting RIBD in 2020, missing data rates have dropped significantly and service-wide training has been introduced to support accurate data entry.

6. What is a racial disproportion and enforcement-action benchmarking? 

Racial disproportionality and enforcement-action benchmarking are the two main strategies when analyzing RIBD.

Racial disproportionalities are calculated by comparing the representation of racial groups within a police dataset compared to their representation in the population.

Enforcement-action benchmarking compares the proportion of racialized individuals in a police dataset compared to the proportion of White individuals.

Yes. WRPS publicly shares the results of all reports which include race-based data analysis. 

To access these reports, click here.  

To access associated presentations on YouTube, or to tune in for the next Police Service Board Meeting, click here. 

Community members are invited to attend any of the community engagements offered by WRPS. Note that the content/the information presented is the same for the following Community consultation sessions:

April 18^th

May 29^th

June 13^th

July 30^th

We will begin community specific sessions after the July Community Consultation session.

The Community Action Panel is a key part of WRPS’ Race- and Identity-Based Data Collection Strategy. According to the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP), community advisory panels offer several benefits:

• Enhanced Communication: Advisory panels provide a structured forum for ongoing communication between law enforcement agencies and community members. This allows for the exchange of ideas, concerns, and feedback, leading to improved understanding and collaboration.

• Community Input: Panels offer a platform for community members to provide input on policing priorities, strategies, and initiatives. This input helps ensure that law enforcement efforts are responsive to the needs and concerns of the communities they serve.

• Increased Accountability: By involving community members in decision-making processes, advisory panels promote transparency and accountability within law enforcement agencies. Police actions and policies are subject to scrutiny and feedback from diverse perspectives.

• Trust Building: Advisory panels contribute to building trust between law enforcement and the community by providing opportunities for dialogue and engagement. When community members feel heard and valued, trust in law enforcement is strengthened.

• Problem Solving: Panels can play a role in identifying and addressing specific issues or challenges within communities. Through collaboration between police and community members, solutions can be developed that are more effective and culturally sensitive.

• Cultural Competency: Advisory panels can help law enforcement agencies better understand the cultural, social, and economic dynamics of the communities they serve. This understanding enables police to tailor their approaches to policing in ways that are respectful and inclusive.

Overall, community advisory panels, also supported by WRPS academic partners,  serve as a mechanism for promoting partnership, transparency, and accountability between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve, ultimately leading to more effective and responsive policing..

The Panel will include residents of our Region, particularly those from diverse backgrounds and/or represented in the data. The goal is to form a collaboration, where WRPS brings the data and our community can contextualize it through their lived experiences. The Panel will represent our commitment to giving our community members a seat at the table as we work together on determining actionable solutions to flags identified within the data.

At the end of each Community Engagement Sessions, attendees are invites to complete a survey.  Attendees may indicate in the final question of the survey if they are interested in joining the Community Action Panel. Please state your interest there.

A formal call for applications to be on the Panel will also come out in the Fall.