Tribunal awards $25,000 to Black woman after finding race was factor in her treatment by Vancouver police

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal News Tribunal awards $25,000 to Black woman after finding race was factor in her treatment by Vancouver police B.C. Human Rights Tribunal found woman was subjected to 'heightened scrutiny' and 'denigrating comments' during a 2020 traffic stop Author of the article: By Cheryl Chan Published Sep 15, 2026 3 minute read Join the conversation The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal awarded Safiya Elshazly $25,000 after ruling race was a factor in her 2020 arrest by Vancouver police. PHOTO BY MATT ROURKE /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Article content The Vancouver police board has been ordered to pay $25,000 to a woman arrested during a 2020 traffic stop after the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal found that race was a factor in how she was treated by police. Article content Tribunal member Laila Said found that police subjected Safiya Elshazly, who is Black, to “unfounded, heightened scrutiny” and “denigrating comments and accusations” and that the encounter escalated rapidly and needlessly. Article content Article content Article content “I find it more probable than not that the stereotype that Black people are prone to criminal behaviour influenced the officers’ behaviour,” Said said in a decision released last week. Article content Sunrise Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Shortly before midnight on Dec. 1, 2020, Elshazly was one of six passengers in a car travelling from a birthday dinner to her home. Article content Police pulled the vehicle over after noticing the extra passenger, an offence under the Motor Vehicle Act. Article content An officer identified in the decision as Const. Cheng asked Elshazly, who was seated in the back, for identification. She said she did not have any, but repeatedly offered to provide her name and other information so police could verify her identity, the decision said. Article content The encounter escalated over the next 40 seconds, with Cheng accusing Elshazly of obstruction and placing her under arrest. Elshazly was handcuffed with her arms behind her back. Article content Another officer who responded to the incident, identified as Const. Bokenfohr, was captured on recordings telling Elshazly, “You are one drunk…