Experts call street checks unconstitutional, racist

A group of legal experts and activists say police street checks, often referred to as ‘carding,’ are unlawful and unfairly target aboriginal people.

“It’s causing a divide between aboriginal people and the Saskatoon police. It creates an adversarial relationship and arguably it leads to an increase in crime,” said Glen Luther, a law professor at the University of Saskatchewan.

Luther is one of 50 people — including lawyers, academics, teachers and activists — who signed their names to a submission on its way before Saskatoon’s board of police commissioners at a meeting later this week. That submission is one among 150 the board has received on the subject of street checks — some in favour, and some critical of the practice.

http://thestarphoenix.com/news/crime/experts-call-street-checks-unconstitutional-racist