Infographic: Racialization of carding and street checks

A “STREET CHECK” or “CARDING” is when police officers randomly stop and question someone and collect information about those people. The details about each person — their name, age, perceived skin colour, estimated height and weight, and often, the names of their friends — are recorded and entered into a database.

Toronto

Between 2008 and 2013, Toronto police filled out at least 2.1 million contact cards involving 1.2 million people.

Make up of population:

• 54.1% White
• 23.6% Other
• 14.3% Middle Eastern of Asian
• 8.1% Black

Carding (2008-2013):

• 51.% White
• 24.1% Black
• 16.7% Middle Eastern of Asian
• 8.2% Other

Ottawa

Between 2011 and 2014, the Ottawa police recorded 23,402 street checks involving 45,802 people.

Make up of population:

• Less than 6% Black
• Less than 4% Middle Eastern

Carding (2011-2014):

• 58% White
• 20% Black
• 14% Middle Eastern
• 7% Other/unknown

London

In 2014, London police conducted about 8,400 street checks (far more than officers in other cities and at a rate triple that of Hamilton and Ottawa). That included recording data of about 14,000 people.

Make up of population

• 2.5% Black
• 1.9% Aboriginal

Carding (2014):

• 7.7% Black
• 5.6% Aboriginal

Hamilton

Between May 2010 and 2013, the Hamilton police conducted over 18,500 street checks.

Make up of population:

• 15% visible minorities
• 3% Black

Carding (2010-2013):

• 20-25% visible minorities
• 11-14% Black

Sources:

• CBC. “Hamilton police disproportionately stop and question black people.” July 23, 2015.
• London Free Press. “Carding stats show racial bias on police force, critics say.” October 14, 2015.
• Ottawa Citizen. “Street checks data about racialized men concerning to civil liberties advocates.” July 26 2015.
• Statistics Canada. 2011 Census of Canada.
• Statistics Canada. 2011 National Household Survey.
• Toronto Star. Analysis of Updated Toronto Police Service Carding Data. July 23, 2014.