Mothers and Sons: Violence and Policing in a Somali Community in Toronto

This report describes experiences of violence and policing among mothers in a Somali community in Toronto. It draws on interviews with 100 mothers, most of whom had a child that died or was gravely injured in gun violence. The mothers we spoke with expressed grief and severe disappointment about policing in Toronto. Most said the police response to needs in their community was inadequate. Many believed the police were callous about the violence and indifferent to their experiences of policing. Many mothers also believed policing in other parts of the city was much better, and several expressed hope that policing in their community would improve. Some offered ideas about what the Toronto Police Service could do to make their community safer. A few had specific suggestions for how the Chief of Police could lead the way forward.