The Ontario Human Rights Commission says Toronto police were inaccurate in claiming that the organization was a “partner” in developing policy around the police service’s body-worn cameras pilot project.
In a news release issued by the Toronto Police Service on May 15, the service offered details about its new year-long program and added that it "partnered with the Information & Privacy Commissioner, the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of the Attorney General and the Toronto Police Association to develop a procedure that addresses issues of privacy, retention, and disclosure."
However, in a written statement released by the OHRC Wednesday, the group contends that this is not the case.
While the organization says TPS representatives did meet with the OHRC to discuss the subject on two occasions, at no point did the OHRC partner with police on the project, the organization said Wednesday.
“At each meeting the OHRC was given high level information only. We asked to see governance procedures on how the cameras would be used but we never received this information,” the statement said.
“The OHRC indicated that body-worn cameras could be a strong tool for police accountability for providing equal services to all people in a manner consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code. However, we also cited concerns regarding how the recordings could be used as a form of surveillance that negatively impacts racialized people, in the same way that Community Engagement (“carding”) does.”
In response to the commission's comments, Toronto police spokesperson Meaghan Gray said the service had discussions with many organizations on the project and the conversations included “sharing and reviewing the body-worn camera governance.”
“We know the issue of surveillance was, and is, an ongoing concern for many organizations. We have made it clear; this tool will not be used for that purpose. We will continue to have open and constructive dialogue with any organization that chooses to work with us on matters of such importance,” the emailed statement said.
As part of the one-year pilot project, which was fully rolled out today, 100 officers from four units across the city, including 43 and 55 divisions, TAVIS (Toronto Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy) and traffic services, will be wearing body cameras.
The service says that the project is intended to enhance public and officer safety and document an “unbiased, accurate account” of interactions between police and members of the public.
