Note: A backgrounder with additional information follows this release. 

Region of Peel –The Peel Police Service Board has received Peel Regional Police’s annual Use of Force report and adopted key recommendations, including the introduction of a Disparity Analysis and a Well-Being Plan.

The 2024 report highlights that 28% of Use of Force incidents involved Black individuals, down from 34% in 2022. While this number represents the lowest level of disparity to date, Black residents who make up 9.87% of Peel’s population—continue to experience force nearly three times more often than their share of the population.

In partnership with the Anti-Racism Advisory Committee, community leaders and academic experts, Peel Regional Police completed an in-depth disparity analysis of over 10,000 individuals in custody in 2024 to understand the reasons for engagement in Use of Force.

The results showed that no single factor explains the disparities in Use of Force outcomes for Black, Indigenous and other racialized communities, but a combination of factors. This includes age, prior arrests, mental health and addiction challenges, unstable home life, and severity of crime. Among these, the number one risk factor was crime severity, which alone elevated the likelihood of Use of force by 455%.

The 111 per cent increase in Use of Force reports from 2023 can be attributed to several factors related to the rise in violent crimes and weapons-related calls.

Since the start of the Human Rights Project, Peel Regional Police has seen a 79 per cent decrease in the rate of injuries from Use of Force to the community, and a 90 per cent decrease in injuries to officers. De-escalation strategies used by officers remained consistent with past years in all Use of Force interactions, bringing the total percentage to 96.1. per cent.

The new Disparity Analysis and Well-Being Plan builds on the foundation of the Human Rights Project, which has transformed the service’s policy, training, and accountability practices to reduce over-representation in Use of Force outcomes for Black, Indigenous and other racialized communities. Key actions in this plan will include:

• Multi-Sector Consultations – Partnering with education, child welfare, social services, and justice sectors to examine root causes of disparity and seek agreement to share insights responsibly.
• Regional Advocacy – Working with the Peel Police Service Board to present disparity findings to Regional Council, aligning policy and resources with equity priorities.
• Regional Strategy Table – Establishing a cross-sector working group to coordinate systemic responses and ensure accountability.
• Data-Driven Analysis – Expanding the service’s disparity analysis to include charges and arrests as part of the 2026–27 strategy.
• Peel Police initiatives – Leveraging the existing Youth Engagement Strategy, Peel Police Foundation and other initiatives to improve outcomes.

For more information about the Human Rights Project, including the full Use of Force report, visit peelpolice.ca/humanrightsproject.

QUICK FACTS

• 28% of Use of Force incidents involved Black individuals, down from 34% in 2022.
• 10,000+ individuals analyzed in 2024 disparity review on Use of Force.
• Individuals in high-severity crimes are 455% more likely to face Use of Force.
• 111% increase in Use of Force reports compared to 2023, linked to rises in violent crime and weapons calls.
• De-escalation was used in 96.1% of Use of Force incidents in 2024.

QUOTES

“As Peel’s civilian police governance body, the Board is committed to ensuring policing reflects the values of equity, transparency, and accountability. The Use of Force report and Disparity Reduction Plan show meaningful progress, while underscoring the work still ahead. The Board will continue to provide strong oversight and continue working with the Chief and our police service so that Peel remains a leader in advancing human rights, trust, and inclusive community safety.”

• Chair Nando Iannicca, Peel Police Service Board

“We’ve made meaningful progress in reducing disparities, but we know there’s more work ahead. Our commitment to de-escalation, human rights–focused training, and long-term solutions for vulnerable populations is stronger than ever. This journey has been shaped by community voices and strengthened through collaboration. Together, we’re building a safer, more inclusive Peel Region.”

• Chief Nishan Duraiappah, Peel Regional Police

“The findings reinforce what research has long shown: disparities in policing are deeply connected to broader social and structural inequalities. Addressing these challenges requires more than police reform—it calls for coordinated action across education, health, housing, and social services. Peel’s approach to linking disparity analysis with well-being strategies is a model for how communities can move forward.

• Dr. Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, Associate Professor, University of Toronto

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MEDIA CONTACT

Media Relations Officer
Email: media.relations@peelpolice.ca 
Phone: 905-453-2121, ext. 4027  

Peel Regional Police - A Safer Community Together

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BACKGROUNDER

Under provincial legislation, all police services are required to collect and report publicly on Use of Force and race-based data. To provide a clearer picture of how police interactions unfold in the community, Peel Regional Police publishes a detailed report, Committed to Action, that highlights the work on the Human Rights Project, sharing numbers and analyzing trends, risk factors and disparities in use of force and police actions. This report is presented to the Peel Police Service Board for approval each year.

This year’s report includes both the 2024 Use of Force data and information on Peel Regional Police’s new Disparity Reduction and Well-Being Plan, marking the next phase of work by Peel Regional Police as part of its Human Rights Project.

2024 USE OF FORCE REPORT – KEY FINDINGS

• Officers responded to 275,885 events in 2024. From these, 1,763 Use of Force reports were submitted — accounting for 0.64% of all interactions.
• Year 2024 saw an increase in violent criminal activity, shootings, and weapons-related calls, contributing to a 111% rise in Use of Force reports compared to 2023.
• Disparities remain, but progress is being made. For example, 28% of Use of Force incidents involved Black individuals in 2024, down from 34% in 2022. While this number represents the lowest level of disparity to date, Black residents—who make up 9.87% of Peel’s population—continue to experience force nearly three times more often than their share of the population.
• Officers used de-escalation in 96.1% of incidents prior to or during the application of force, reflecting the results of human-rights focused training.
• There was a 64% decrease in number of persons in crisis experiencing injury from Use of Force compared to 2022.

DISPARITY ANALYSIS AND WELL-BEING PLAN

• In 2024, Peel Regional Police conducted an in-depth Disparity Analysis of more than 10,000 individuals arrested. The framework for analysis was completed in partnership with the Anti-Racism Advisory Committee (ARAC), community, academic experts, and data scientists.

• The analysis confirmed that disparities in Use of Force outcomes cannot be explained by a single factor. Instead, a combination of social determinants—life circumstances that affect people’s likelihood of coming into contact with police. These include:

1. Age: People under 30 were 88% more likely to experience force.
2. Prior justice involvement: Individuals with prior arrests faced a 54% higher risk.
3. Mental health & addiction: These factors significantly increased the likelihood of force.
4. Employment & education: People with steady employment, or higher education had lower odds of experiencing force.
5. Nature of Crime: The strongest factor —Use of Force elevated by 455% for those individuals involved in high-severity crimes.

• Recognizing that policing alone cannot solve systemic inequities, the Service will continue to collaborate across sectors to advance work on human rights. Key actions of this plan include:

1. Multi-Sector Consultations – Partner with education, child welfare, social services, and justice sectors to examine root causes and share insights responsibly.
2. Regional Advocacy – Work with the Peel Police Service Board to present disparity findings to Regional Council, aligning policy and resources with equity priorities.
3. Regional Strategy Table – Establish a cross-sector working group to coordinate systemic responses and ensure accountability.
4. Data-Driven Analysis – Expand the service’s disparity analysis to include charges and arrests as part of the 2026–27 strategy.
5. Peel Police initiatives – Leverage the existing Youth Engagement Strategy, Peel Police Foundation and other initiatives to improve outcomes.

HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT

Launched in 2020, the Human Rights Project is a first-of-its-kind initiative between Peel Regional Police, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), and the Peel Police Service Board.

This initiative has been shaped by community voices and expert collaboration – in 2021, Peel Regional Police established an independent Anti-Racism Advisory Committee (ARAC) with 21 diverse members representing Brampton and Mississauga to provide meaningful advice on implementing OHRC’s recommendations.

ARAC has since formed six subcommittees, working in alignment with the Chief’s Resource Councils and the Anti-Black Racism and Systemic Discrimination (ABR-SD) Collective, to ensure transparency, accountability, and community voice remain central to the project.

The Human Rights Project has led to significant, measurable changes in Peel policing, including reforms to training, hiring, accountability, and the collection of race and identity-based data. It has also positioned Peel Regional Police as a leader among Canadian police services, highlighting our unique approach.

• Beyond the requirements: Peel Regional Police goes further than legislated reporting by analyzing disparities, linking them to social determinants of crime, and exploring root causes beyond policing.
• National leadership: Peel Regional Police has helped shape the national framework for Race and Identity-Based Data (RIBD) collection and training through the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. Few other services report with this level of depth and openness.
• Community Safety & Well-Being: Peel Regional Police recognizes that systemic inequities cannot be addressed by policing alone. Through the new Disparity Reduction and Well-Being Plan, PRP will work with partners across education, child welfare, health, youth engagement, and social services to address root causes of crime and disparities.