Listen Live
Listen Live

Alberta government bans police practice of “carding”

Some changes are being made to how police officers around the province gather public information.

As of now, the UCP government is banning carding and establishing clear rules for common interactions between police and the public.

Justice Minister Kaycee Madu says the new provisions establish clear rules around so-called “street checks” – to ensure police officers respect the rights of citizens when requesting personal information.

Carding, meanwhile is a police practice of randomly and arbitrarily stopping people and asking for personal information.

Madu says this will end immediately, saying this is an inappropriate use of police powers.

“Members of Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities in Alberta expressed concerns about carding and street checks, and we have a responsibility to act on those legitimate concerns. The Government of Alberta supports the dedication and courage of the province’s police officers, and this historic change ensures they will continue to serve and protect our communities with the full trust and confidence of all Albertans,” stated Madu in a news conference on Thursday.

The Alberta government’s ban on carding will ensure consistency across the province.

The new rules on street checks were developed in consultation with the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police, and recognize the value of street checks as an investigative tool for police officers to build relationships in the community while investigating crime. However, the new rules state that officers can collect personal information from members of the public only in specific circumstances, such as asking about a crime that has taken place. These interactions will be voluntary, and officers must make that clear at the outset of the interaction that citizens have no obligation to provide their personal information or answer questions.

Police services will now be required to train officers to comply with the new rules, and provide public education to help ensure that citizens know their rights when interacting with the police. The public awareness requirements for police services include holding information sessions with community groups, making information available on their websites and developing communications strategies to inform the public via social media and in various languages.

New records management and oversight requirements will ensure police services comply with the new street check rules. Police services must conduct internal reviews of street check data four times a year, and provide annual reports to the Alberta government.

(From Alberta government news release)

Patrick Siedlecki
Patrick Siedlecki
Pat has been a mainstay in the CJOC News department from the time the station launched in 2007. He's been in the position of News Director since then and has been anchoring daily news casts as well as reporting and working behind the scenes. Community is important to him and keeping CJOC listeners and readers informed about what's happening across southern Alberta and beyond. Pat has been in radio broadcasting for the past 24 years, starting in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island in 1997 and then moving up island to Nanaimo for another few years before heading to Lethbridge in 2007. Pat grew up in the small Saskatchewan farming town of Foam Lake. After high school, he went to Western Academy Broadcasting College (WABC) in Saskatoon prior to moving to the island. Pat also spent several years broadcasting hockey in the BCHL as well as seven years as the radio voice of the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL. Pat has been working at Cornerstone Funeral Home in Lethbridge as a Certified Life Celebrant and Funeral Assistant since 2016. News and sports have always been Pat's passion from the time he was a teenager and he's always been grateful to have had the opportunity to make that part of what's been a fun and long radio career!
- Advertisement -

cjoc Now playing play

ckbd Now playing play

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Celebrate Barons Family Day this Saturday

Spend July 5 with the family in Barons for Barons Family Day. 

New referendum rules come into effect in Alberta

New rules have come into effect in Alberta that could make it easier for residents to start a province-wide referendum.  

Nature Conservancy partnership protects historic southern Alberta ranchland

The Nature Conservancy of Canada has announced that the first phase of the Bob Creek Ranch conservation project has been completed. 

Disruptions along 5 Street South to begin Monday

Starting Monday and until July 9, City of Lethbridge crews will be conducting geotechnical drilling (boreholes) at 11 locations.  

Impaired driving enforcement a focus for police in July

Lethbridge Police and other law enforcement agencies across the province are focusing on impaired driving throughout July. 
- Advertisement -