Kingston police to keep race statistics

Police in Kingston, Ontario, will soon become the first force in Canada to keep statistics on the race of almost every person they stop.

The city's Police Services Board has unanimously approved the controversial plan. It comes into effect in October.

The move follows recent accusations that the force has been targeting racial minorities.

"Someone's already put out the opinion that we are racially prejudiced," said Gerry Doherty, president of the Kingston Police Association.

"I've got no problem showing our cards. So if they think we are (racial profiling), now it's our point to prove that we are or we aren't."

Under the new procedures, officers will record the race of people they question, as well as the reasons for stopping them, said police spokesperson Ray Lonsdale.

Although the entire police board endorsed the plan, one member expressed reservations about how the statistics might be used against the police.

"If it did get reported wrongly, it's going to have an impact, morale-wise, on the front-line officers," said Terry Tate, a retired lawyer.

The board will re-evaluate the plan after one year.