XPost: can.politics, bc.politics, mtl.general   
   XPost: tor.general   
   From: puela@nyet.ca   
      
   January 6, 2015 - National Post   
      
      
   Toronto police chief orders officers to stop controversial carding 'until   
   further notice'   
      
      
      
   Carding has been a lightning rod that has frayed relations between police and   
   some visible minorities, who see it as a means to racial profiling   
      
   Toronto police Chief Blair has ordered the rank and file to suspend the   
   controversial practice of carding "until further notice."   
      
   The top cop's spokesman confirmed Chief Blair issued the "routine order" on   
   January 1st, but said he will not comment until February on why a practice he   
   once defended should suddenly cease.   
      
   Chief Blair had been asked by his board to report back on carding at the   
   February meeting.   
      
   "His practice has always been to speak to the board before he speaks publicly   
   and that's what he'll do," said spokesman Mark Pugash.   
      
   Carding - the practice of documenting non criminal interactions with the public   
   - has been a lightning rod that has frayed relations between police and some   
   visible minorities, who see it as a means to racial profiling.   
      
   At a board meeting last month, Mayor John Tory called the practice "corrosive".   
     Activists and concerned residents called for an end to carding, but the board   
   instead reaffirmed its commitment to a policy adopted last year that places   
   restrictions on it.   
      
   Police union president Mike McCormack said carding is a "useful investigative   
   technique" when done properly and "within the framework of the law" although he   
   noted that its use is "way down."   
      
        It shouldn't have gone on in the first place and now he's saying ‘until   
   further notice'   
      
   "We understand the balance between individuals' rights and community perception   
   and balancing that with the investigative needs and requirements," said Mr.   
   McCormack.  "We just want to ensure that's protected."   
      
   Kingsley Gilliam, a director of the Black Action Defense Committee, said police   
   already have all the investigative powers they need.  He called the chief's   
   order a "step in the right direction" but said it's not enough.   
      
   "It shouldn't have gone on in the first place and now he's saying ‘until   
   further notice'.   That makes it still tentative.   We want it stopped   
   permanently," he said.   
      
      
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