Peel Regional Police – Bold and Meaningful Changes for Policing in Peel Region
The Voice of Canada News:
Region of Peel– Peel Regional Police are proud of its 3200 members, who are amongst Canadian officers and civilians that are equipped, supported, trained, and governed at a standard that makes them the best policing model, and best individuals in policing globally.
PRP continues to undertake significant, unprecedented organizational change.
This year has also seen unprecedented attention around systemic racism both globally and locally. The leadership of Peel Regional Police recognizes that systemic racism exists, and has been entrenched across systems and public institutions. Systemic racism affects service delivery to the communities we serve as well as the daily experience of police members, when they are on the job and when they are at home.
Peel Regional Police is committed to the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Human Rights Code; the need for co-operation between the providers of police services and the communities they serve. This includes, and is not limited to, a focus on anti-Black racism, anti-Immigrant, and anti-Indigenous racism, within policing and promotes transparency and improves racialized communities’ trust in policing.
The importance of respect for victims of crime and understanding of their needs; the need for sensitivity to the pluralistic, multiracial, and multicultural character of Ontario’s society; and the need to ensure that police services and police service boards are representative of the communities they serve.
Chief Duraiappah has advocated for thoughtful and meaningful opportunities to better serve the citizens of Peel Region. Given Peel Region’s engaged and diverse community, PRP and Peel Police Services Board (PRPSB) are committed to taking a leadership role amongst police agencies to address and overcome systemic racism in policing. “As police leaders, we must go beyond verbal affirmations. I, along with a consortium of the willing, are making bold and meaningful changes. We understand that the willingness to step out, implement changes, to drive out systemic racism without fear of failure is required and expected”, said Chief Nishan Duraiappah.
PRP has committed to shifting to a pro-public health emphasis, rooted in a human rights focus. In September 2019, Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) supported the seven key principles identified by the OHRC to affect meaningful change.
PRP and the Peel Police Service Board have committed operationalizing and implementing these principles under a systemic change framework with the OHRC.
