Unlawful Enforcers: Charter Violations by Major Ontario City Police Services
Unlawful Enforcers analyzes reported court decisions issued between January 1, 2015 and May 31, 2025 with findings of violations of the Charter involving police officers from Ontario’s five largest municipal police services: Toronto Police Service, Peel Regional Police, York Regional Police, Durham Regional Police Service and Ottawa Police Service. It also makes public policy-oriented recommendations.
The overall goal of the Unlawful Enforcers is to encourage systemic change to address police violations of the Charter – systemic change that will advance public safety and enhance trust between police and the public.
Document Date: March 18, 2026
Authors: Sunil Gurmukh (Adjunct Research Professor, Western Law) and Scot Wortley (Professor and Acting Director, U of T Centre for Criminology & Sociolegal Studies)
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