Unveiling of the preliminary results of the Feminist Perspectives on Police Profiling and Discrimination project

Montreal, October 6, 2023

Last night at the Resto Plateau, the Table de groupes de femmes de Montréal (TGFM) unveiled the results of the first phase of its project Feminist Perspectives on Police Profiling and Discrimination, which examines the relationship between Montreal women and the police, private security and the Société des transports de Montréal.

Conducted in collaboration with six member and allied organizations, the project compiled the results of 540 survey responses and 4 focus groups with a majority of women and a minority of people identifying as queer, trans, non-binary or other. "60% of respondents report having negative or very negative feelings about police forces," notes Laura Carli, TGFM project manager. This sentiment is shared by ¾ of white respondents, demonstrating that this negative perception corresponds to the majority of respondents, regardless of their ethnic or cultural background.

Of the 540 respondents to the survey, more than 200 felt the need to call on the SPVM but did not do so. Many reasons are given to explain women's distrust of the police: ineffective interventions, insensitive officers, difficulty confiding in strangers in the event of an intimate event, fear of not being believed, lengthy procedures, etc. "Even if distrust is widespread, it is rooted differently in reality. Even if mistrust is generalized, it is rooted differently in the reality of certain demographic groups," nuances Laura Carli. For example, Aboriginal women living on the streets report experiencing a great deal of police violence, as well as violence from STM constables and private security guards in the businesses they use.

The second phase of the project will involve proposing and implementing concrete solutions to address these issues. "We hope that this project will raise awareness among those with the power to improve current law enforcement practices, and mobilize political will for more resources and less profiling," concludes Laura Carli.

-30-

Information and interview requests:
Ariane Aubin-Cadot, public relations officer, cell. 514 805-3715, ariane@beteferoce.com