Collection of data on Indigenous and ethno-cultural groups in Canada's official police-reported crime statistics

A joint statement by Statistics Canada and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police

July 15, 2020

Today, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and Statistics Canada announced a commitment to work together to meet an important information need for the justice community. Together, the two organizations will work with the policing community and key organizations to enable police to report statistics on Indigenous and ethno-cultural groups in police reported crime statistics on victims and accused persons.

The value of such information has been raised by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and by organizations such as the Canadian Race Relations Foundation. Statistics Canada and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police know that the demand for this information has never been greater and are committed to identifying ways to provide reliable police statistics on Indigenous and ethno-cultural groups.

"The collection of data on Indigenous and ethno-cultural identity has been a subject of discussion in Canada for many decades. The need for quality data about the experience of Indigenous peoples and ethno-cultural communities with Canada's criminal justice system is paramount to understanding the extent to which people from these communities are represented in Canada's criminal justice system, beginning with their interactions with the police," said co-chair of the CACP's Police Information and Statistics Committee, Deputy Chief Stu Betts of the London Police Service.

"Disaggregated data is vital for decision making in multiple sectors and Statistics Canada is committed to working with the CACP to ensure Canada's official police-reported crime statistics reflect indigenous and ethno-cultural groups," said Anil Arora, Chief Statistician of Canada.

In 2020, Statistics Canada and the CACP will begin discussions with partners and stakeholders to inform this data collection and to identify ways of ensuring quality information.

We look forward to working with organizations, police and key stakeholders to advance improving police-reported data on Indigenous and ethno-cultural groups.

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