Toronto police have released a most wanted list in connection with the G20 riots and vandalism that took place on Saturday, June 26. The list -- if it can really be called that -- is comprised of a series of photos of possible suspects. By and large, these photos were sent in to the TPS G20 investigative team webpage by citizens who witnessed the events on the day in question.

Det. Sgt. Gary Giroux claims that the arrest of Ashran Ravindhera earlier today on charges of arson and mischief over $5,000 was helped by the release of an earlier set of images of potential suspects on July 7. Many of the photos revealed today also appeared in this prior press release.

As the CBC story on today's press conference notes, there's a definite sense that the TPS and activist groups like Canadians Advocating Political Participation (CAPP) and Toronto Community Mobilization Network (TCMN) are engaged in a PR war. The TCMN, of course, has their own webpage that solicits the public to submit images and videos of police brutality.

So in response to this request and the continued calls for a public inquiry, it would seem that the police are turning up the hyperbole in order to remind everyone that not all the protesters were peaceful (as if a reminder were necessary).

I doubt that anyone has a problem with the police or activist groups engaging the public to help identify those responsible for the violence over the G20 -- it's actually a good idea -- but my fear is that the one-upmanship from both sides may end up being counter productive. Although the TCMN has plethora of videos documenting suspect police behaviour and the TPS has received thousands of photo submissions of violent protest, the more the two sides become invested in battling one another, the sooner the public will lose faith in each group's ability to accomplish its goals.

Image from Toronto Police Services (the whole set is here).