The Waterloo Regional Police Service is committed to fostering a community where equity, diversity, and inclusion are paramount. Our Race and Identity-Based Data Collection Action Plan is a crucial initiative aimed at identifying and addressing systemic racism within our community. Collecting and analyzing race and identity-based data, we strive to create equitable outcomes for all residents. This plan reflects our dedication to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in building trust and promoting racial equity. Join us in this important journey towards a more inclusive and just society.
At WRPS, the RIBDCS assesses whether racial disparities exist in police data. If they do, we can investigate those trends further to determine how to eliminate systemic racism.
WRPS Has Been Collecting Data Since 2020
We have been collecting RIBD since 2020. We collect this data in four selected interactions: Use of Force incidents, Search of Persons in Custody, Intelligence Notes, and Regulated Interactions. Each interaction has a corresponding form where officers can provide data on perceived race.
In 2018, Ontario legislated the Data Standards for the Identification and Monitoring of Systemic Racism (RIBDCS). This legislation implores government institutions to collect race—and identity-based data to eradicate systemic racism.
Officers do not ask individuals in police interactions to racially self-identify. As a result, they can only provide “perceived race” data, based on their own perception of the individual’s racial identity. When investigating systemic racism, we are focused on whether there are trends in how officers perceive individuals and any impacts on their outcomes.
Important Concepts
- Racial disproportionality and enforcement-action benchmarking are the two main strategies when analyzing RIBD.
- Racial disproportionalities are calculated by comparing the representation of racial groups within a police dataset with their representation in the population.
- Enforcement-action benchmarking compares the proportion of racialized individuals in a police dataset with the proportion of White individuals.
A Service-Wide and Beyond Initiative
The Strategic Services and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Branches both support the RIBDCS. Members from these branches are experts in data analysis and EDI, respectively. All officers receive training on how to fill out forms, including the perceived race section. Additionally, Sergeants in corresponding divisions review the forms to ensure everything is being filled out correctly. The work in this strategy is supported by our academic partners, Dr. Les Jacobs and Dr. Lorne Foster, both human rights experts who have supported similar strategies in police services across Ontario.
Since the start of collection, missing data rates have dropped significantly, and service-wide training has been introduced to support accurate data entry.
Engaging the Community
The overarching goal of Community Collaboratives are to develop mutual understanding, trust, and partnership between the police and community groups represented in the data, as well as anyone in Waterloo Region with interest in this work. Importantly, the engagement sessions are an opportunity for community members (of all diversities and identities) to speak candidly about their lived experiences and challenges and to identify opportunities on how the police could make improvements to programs and services. The community engagements support an integrated community-based approach to addressing issues related to systemic racism.
The Community Action Panel is a key part of WRPS’ Race- and Identity-Based Data Collection Strategy. According to the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP), community advisory panels offer several benefits:
Enhanced Communication
Advisory panels provide a structured forum for ongoing communication between law enforcement agencies and community members. This allows for the exchange of ideas, concerns, and feedback, leading to improved understanding and collaboration.
Community Input
Panels offer a platform for community members to provide input on policing priorities, strategies, and initiatives. This input helps ensure that law enforcement efforts are responsive to the needs and concerns of the communities they serve.
Increased Accountability: By involving community members in decision-making processes, advisory panels promote transparency and accountability within law enforcement agencies. Police actions and policies are subject to scrutiny and feedback from diverse perspectives.
Trust Building
Advisory panels contribute to building trust between law enforcement and the community by providing opportunities for dialogue and engagement. When community members feel heard and valued, trust in law enforcement is strengthened.
Problem Solving
Panels can play a role in identifying and addressing specific issues or challenges within communities. Through collaboration between police and community members, solutions can be developed that are more effective and culturally sensitive.
Cultural Competency: Advisory panels can help law enforcement agencies better understand the cultural, social, and economic dynamics of the communities they serve. This understanding enables police to tailor their approaches to policing in ways that are respectful and inclusive.
Lorne Foster
Lorne Foster is Professor at the School of Public Policy & Administration (SPPA), York University, and the Director of the Institute for Social Research (ISR), which is a leading university-based survey research centre in Canada. He also holds the York Research Chair in Black Canadian Studies & Human Rights (Tier 1). Dr. Foster has collaborated with communities and organizations in the not-for-profit, private, and wider public sectors on various equity initiatives; and has consulted extensively on anti-racism, human rights and equity issues. He has consulted with local, national, and international governments. His numerous books and research focus on human rights and public policy linkages related to the area of race and ethnicity.
Les Jacobs
Les Jacobs is Vice-President, Research & Innovation at Ontario Tech University and Professor Emeritus at York University, where he held the York Research Chair in Human Rights and Access to Justice. He was also the founding Director of the York Centre for Public Policy and Law and Executive Director of the Canadian Forum on Civil Justice, housed at Osgoode Hall Law School. Dr. Jacobs is Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, appointed in 2017, in recognition of being one of the world’s leading experts on large scale empirical research projects on human rights and access to justice involving data science, and more broadly innovative theoretical contributions to social justice and large-scale applications of data science in the social sciences.
Previous Presentations
Watch the Recorded Video. If you would like a copy of the presentation, please use the form below to contact us.
Watch the Recorded Video. If you would like a copy of the presentation, please use the form below to contact us.
PowerPoint Presentation. Citation: Williams, A. (2024). Data for Good: Using Data to Start Conversations. [Invited Presentation]. Waterloo, ON. Canada.
Poster Presentation [UPDATE LINK]
Citation: Siddiqui, H., Stafford, G., & Williams, A. (2024). Promoting positive community relations: What can policing learn from social psychology. [Poster presentation]. Building Bridges @ Blue Evidence-Based Policing Conference. The Blue Mountains, ON. Canada.
PowerPoint Presentation
Citation: Siddiqui, H., Stafford, G., & Williams, A. (2025, February 20-22). Promoting positive community relations: What can policing learn from social psychology. [Conference presentation]. SPSP 25th Annual Convention, Denver, CO, United States.