Internal study by the force concludes officers go on “fishing expeditions” for young black men
An internal study by the Montreal Police Service has concluded its officers are engaging in racial profiling. Between 2001 and 2007, police identification checks on individuals increased by 126 per cent in the borough of Montreal North borough and by 91 per cent in St-Michel. The report says racial profiling in the neighborhoods is “much too high” and constitutes “fishing expeditions.” Thirty to 40 per cent of young black men in the areas faced police identity checks, compared to 5 to 6 per cent of whites. Michel Charest, the study’s author, says that because only five per cent of the checks resulted in an arrest or infraction, the checks can be “judged as arbitrary or malicious.” Montreal Police Service commander, Eric La Penna, dismissed the report, saying its evidence is biased and the police doesn’t have a systemic problem.