Peel Police Services Board Moves Forward to Prioritize Human Rights and Systemic and Anti-Black Racism

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BRAMPTON – With a renewed focus on human rights and police governance and responding to feedback from community groups and local residents, the Peel Police Services Board has announced changes to its board committees.

The current Diversity and Inclusion Committee will be incorporated into the newly formed Governance and Human Rights Committee. Chaired by Board member Sumeeta Kohli, the Committee also includes Board Vice-Chair Ahmad Attia, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, Brampton Deputy Mayor Martin Medeiros, and Board Chair Ron Chatha, who sits as an ex-officio member of the Committee.

“For the last three years, the Peel Police Services Board has been addressing systemic racism in policing through a range of initiatives, including the Memorandum of Understanding with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, introducing body worn cameras, and the establishment of an anti-racism advisory committee. While this is not a new priority, the Governance and Human Rights Committee will bring a renewed level of accountability in overseeing these initiatives, advancing further efforts, and directly engaging with the community at the governance level,” said Committee Chair Sumeeta Kohli. 

The committee's objective is to apply a human rights lens to policing governance to better address the challenges of Peel’s diverse community from a Community Safety and Well Being perspective. As part of developing its mandate and approach, the Committee will retain a third-party academic with expertise in human rights and governance to help re-define the committee’s mandate, review existing Board policies from a human rights perspective, and meaningfully engage with community members to translate lived experiences to Board governance, policy, and changes in strategic priorities.

“Taking on issues like anti-Black racism, and systemic racism in policing cannot be done as a one-time project. Advancing our approach to policing and regaining community trust is an ongoing process. Through the new Governance and Human Rights Committee, the Peel Police Board hopes to transition from piecemeal projects to a multi-year strategy for systemic change,” said Police Services Board Chair Ron Chatha.

As the work of the Governance and Human Rights Committee progresses, updates will be communicated to the public, community partners and the police service. 

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Media Contacts:

Rob Serpe
Executive Director
Peel Police Services Board
905-458-1340
robert.serpe@peelpoliceboard.ca