New government plan could allow cops to stop and question anyone in high crime neighbourhoods

John Bkila
News Reporter

Etobicoke-North MP Roy Cullen said he has concerns about the Ontario government’s plan to give police the power to stop and question people randomly during “community policing” in high-crime areas.

“There are high crime areas in North Etobicoke, so does that mean someone picking up dinner there is going to be randomly stopped and questioned,” asked Cullen.

“I’m sympathetic to giving police all the tools they need, but there would have to be specific rules of engagement.”

The MP said there is a fine line between protecting the general public by keeping the streets safe, and protecting a person’s civil rights.

Crown attorneys John Corelli and Michal Fairburn disagree.

In documents filed for an April 24 Supreme Court of Canada hearing they write, “An officer’s crime prevention role is complemented by the moral and social duty resting on citizens to assist the police.

“Without the co-operation of the public, police cannot familiarize themselves with the neighbourhood, which is fundamental to community-based policing.”

The Ontario government's lawyers argued if an individual is stopped and questioned by police that this would not necessarily mean unlawful detainment, as described in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

This case comes after 18-year-old Donnohue Grant appealed his conviction of gun possession in 2004.

A year earlier, Toronto Police stopped and questioned Grant while he was walking on a sidewalk near a high school east of the city in an area with a history of criminal activity.

But Cullen said he opposes the idea of conducting random searches and questionings merely because officers are in a high-crime area, such as the one in his riding surrounding North Campus.

There would have to be sufficient knowledge or reasonable information that a crime has been committed and will very likely be committed again, he said.

“Unfortunately the police don’t have all the tools they need and sometimes witnesses don’t come forward, especially in high-crime, areas out of fear,” said Cullen. “But if this is done appropriately and handled properly, it could be effective.”

Some Humber students feel uneasy about the added police power was made legal.

“I think there could be some abuse of that power,” said Michelle Bueno, a second-year law clerk student. “But it could also work like the RIDE program, where officers prevent people from committing certain crimes just by being there.”