Repentigny police racially profiled 12-year-old boys, rights commission says

The Repentigny Police Force and three of its officers are being asked to pay $42,000 in moral and punitive damages for racially profiling two 12-year-olds at a birthday party five years ago.

The Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission is also recommending the Repentigny Police Force train its members on the risks of profiling people of colour, and review its procedures related to the treatment of children under 14.

“We increasingly have cases from people living in the small towns outside Montreal, from places like Terrebonne, Repentigny, St-Jérôme, because people are moving to the suburbs,” said Fo Niemi of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR), who helped the families bring their cases before the commission. “So the decision comes as a confirmation that racial profiling does exist in Repentigny, and it carries a hefty price tag.”

The city of Repentigny disputes the results of the findings and will fight the case in court, if necessary.

Catégories

Type de document: