"No Justice, No Peace": Institutional culture of policing & effects on minority groups in Canada

The institutional culture of policing and the use of controversial policing practices has largely contributed to the divide that exists between minority populations and the police in Canada. Surveys and data measuring the public’s perception of policing in Canada have demonstrated that there is a gap between minority populations and their confidence in the abilities of the policing agencies which serve and protect them. This research paper identifies how the institutional culture of policing and the continued use of controversial policing practices contributes to the tension that exists between these two groups. Specifically, it examines three controversial policing practices: predictive policing, street-checks and starlight tours and discusses how these practices further the mistrust and lack of faith that minority groups experience in interacting with Canadian policing institutions. Using a descriptive analysis of purposively selected literature, the results of this research suggest that the institutional culture of policing continues to perpetuate the use of these controversial policing practices through a unified, in-group solidarity mentality. These practices shape public perceptions of the police and contribute to the divide between minority populations and the police. Research results suggest that in order to improve the relationship between the public and the police, changes must be made internally at an institutional level. This includes integrating social services into law enforcement, reevaluating the use of controversial policing practices and addressing the “blue code of silence” that exists within policing agencies.