Tribunal Orders Vancouver Police to Pay $25,000 for Racial Discrimination Against Black Woman

 

 

The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal has ordered the Vancouver Police Board to pay $25,000 in compensation for racially discriminating against a Black woman. In an incident that occurred in March 2021, officers handcuffed Angela Miller—a Black woman who was attempting to speak to them respectfully—and threatened to charge her with an offense. The tribunal found that the police failed to extend the same courtesy or consideration to Miller that they would have shown to white citizens, and concluded that her race was the primary reason for the officers' harsh conduct.

Police officers had arrived to intervene in a dispute between Miller and her landlord regarding outstanding rent. Although Miller stated she was willing to pay the rent and even showed the officers the money she had on hand, they refused to listen to her. Subsequently, Miller—who posed no obstruction—was taken into custody through the unnecessary use of force. Miller approached the tribunal stating that she had suffered severe emotional trauma and racial humiliation due to the police's interference and poor conduct. The tribunal member who delivered the verdict pointed out a serious lapse on the part of the police. In addition to awarding $25,000 in compensation to Miller, the Vancouver Police Board has been ordered to urgently revise the anti-racism training provided to police officers. Human rights activists responded by stating that this verdict serves as evidence of the systemic racial discrimination prevalent within the police force.