Community members from the Jane and Finch neighbourhood are speaking out about “racially discriminatory practices” by Toronto police officers after a report released last week suggests that 31 Division staff are ignoring new rules on ‘carding.’

The Toronto Police Services Board approved new rules on ‘carding’ in April to prevent officers from stopping people without a valid public safety reason.

But a study conducted on behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board last week found that out of 404 respondents surveyed in the northwest Toronto community, sixty-two said they had been carded since June. Of those surveyed, 137 said they had been carded at some point in their lives.

Neil Price, the executive director of LogicalOutcomes, the non-profit organization that conducted the study, said those surveyed were a self-selected sample who came forward to share their experiences and added that the report was not meant to be “scientific.”

The report findings appear to have prompted members of the Jane Finch Action Against Poverty coalition to hold an event at York Gate Mall Wednesday night to discuss “racially biased carding,” which the group claims is widespread in the community.

“Clearly, the ‘intent’ of the policy has not been translated into practice,” Sabrina Butterfly GoPaul, of the Jane Finch Action Against Poverty, said in a news release.

“We have the highest incident of improper police ‘carding’ and criminalization of residents in the country. Our community has the largest proportion of low income and lower median household income levels in the City, high levels of poverty, unemployment, and one of the highest proportions of racialized people and immigrants in Toronto.”

The group called the findings from the new study “unequivocal.”

“The policy is ignored and racially discriminatory practices continue to characterize the encounters many community members have with police,” the news release read.

Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair was quick to slam the study last week, telling reporters that he believed the methodology needed to be better explained, calling it “somewhat suspect.”

“During the entire period of June 1 of this year to August 31, there were a total of 83 contact cards submitted in all of 31 division… quite frankly (the study’s) numbers don’t line up,” he said.

“This report has suggested certain things and reached certain conclusions that I think may be based upon a long history of tension that existed with the community going back to the 80’s and it is not an accurate reflection of what is happening today,” Blair said.

Blair added that he does believe the police service needs to do more work to reach out and “build strong and respectful relationships” with young people in the neighbourhood.

“Unfortunately some of the conclusions that have been drawn and what has been reported needs a great deal more work.”

Price said it is “unfortunate” that the police chief didn’t take more time to read the study.

“If he had, he would have realized that the study doesn’t pretend to be something that it is not,” he told CP24.com Wednesday. “We are very clear in the report about its limitations and its scope.”

Despite the police chief’s comments, Price said he believes some positive things did come out of the report.

“I think it is a very positive sign that you are not getting apathy, you are getting engagement,” he said.

“People care about this issue and they want to see change.”

Price will be speaking alongside the Jane Finch Action Against Poverty coalition at tonight’s event, which begins at 6 p.m.