4c: Community-Based Organizations

What is “pol-ooming”?

“Pol-ooming” (police + grooming) describes the ways police gain normalized access to children and youth through everyday interactions, particularly in community spaces. This includes participation in youth programming such as sports, educational activities, and mentorship roles. Rather than supporting safety, these interactions can contribute to increased surveillance, normalization of police presence, and adverse experiences for young people, reinforcing broader patterns of harm and criminalization.

How can community organizations avoid policing youth?

Police involvement in community programming—especially youth programming—is part of a broader continuum of policing that extends beyond schools. Community organizations, non-profits, charities, and grassroots groups play a key role in interrupting this by choosing not to partner with or embed police within their programs. One approach is adopting policies that limit or refuse police engagement altogether, alongside engaging in ongoing learning and reflection about how policing operates in community spaces and impacts access, safety, and well-being.

What does FoodShare Toronto’s policy for police engagement include?

FoodShare Toronto’s policy for police engagement provides a concrete example of harm reduction in practice. It includes measures such as asking police to leave community spaces during programming, training staff on how to respond to police presence, and refusing partnerships, funding, or volunteer involvement that involves police or other armed institutions. The policy also discourages inviting police to events and encourages caution when participating in spaces where police are present. These actions are intended to reduce exposure to policing and carceral systems, while prioritizing the safety and well-being of community members, particularly youth.

https://www.instagram.com/foodshareto/p/ChKjLfuLr5a/?img_index=1