Controversial practice at the centre of debate in Toronto not an issue in Thunder Bay: Police

THUNDER BAY -- The Thunder Bay Police Service says it doesn't card.

But they ask that people be civil should officers approach a person looking for information in an investigation.

Toronto police have been facing criticism recently over carding, stopping and questioning people who are not under arrest or suspected of committing a crime. That information is then put into a data base.

Thunder Bay executive officer Chris Adams said that is not something the local force does. But there are times during an investigation that police will stop and ask someone if they think that person might have information that could be helpful. They also routinely check in on people known to police.

"When it comes to indiscriminately going and collecting information, it's not something that police in general do. It's certainly not something Thunder Bay police are in the practice of doing," Adams said.

But if police think a person might be a witness, Adams said people need to know that they have certain responsibilities and police advise that they keep the conversation civil.

"While you can refuse to identify yourself, you are putting yourself in the position where you may be detained as a temporary measure so that police can do a further investigation," he said.