CONTRACT POLICING
Objective
To provide community policing services to provinces,
territories and municipalities under contract to the Government of Canada,
including:
- the investigation; the detection and prevention of
crime;
- the enforcement of laws;
- the maintenance of peace and order; and
- the protection of life and property.
Background
- The RCMP provides community policing services under contract
in all provinces and territories of Canada, except Ontario and Quebec.
- New agreements were signed on April 1, 1992, effective
for 20 years.
- Individual municipal policing agreements have also
been negotiated between a number of municipalities and the Government
of Canada
in the contract provinces and territories.
- In British Columbia, a general municipal policing
agreement exists between the provincial government and Canada, for the
delivery of municipal police service to specific municipalities.
- RCMP members employed under these agreements also conduct federal
enforcement investigations.
- The agreements provide a source of experienced personnel to assist
in major investigations, emergencies and special events where increased
resources are required.
First Nations
- RCMP provides general policing services to First Nations communities
in the contract provinces and territories.
- To enhance service, satellite
offices have been established in some reserves.
- Special emphasis is placed
on policing that is impartial and sensitive.
Approach
- Police services based on the community
policing philosophy.
- Communities help police recognize, develop and
determine community policing needs.
- They are also active partners in many
of the principal police tasks, such as crime prevention services, operational
support and enforcement.
Organization
- Contract police services are organized into 10 divisions and represent
approximately 47 per cent of uniformed personnel.
- Divisions are further divided into
sub-divisions or districts, which comprise groups of detachments.
- Each detachment, operates independently
with its own dedicated resources and is responsible for law enforcement
and the prevention of crime within its defined jurisdiction.
- Detachment
members consult and collaborate with the community to set policing strategies
and develop plans of action that meet community needs.
- To support detachments, specialized units and operational
support groups (general investigation, traffic and crime analysts and
police service dogs, etc.) exist at division headquarters, as well as
the sub-division and detachment level.
Management
- Internal management, including administration and application
of professional police procedures, remain under the control of the federal
government.
- Control and accountability limits of the force are determined
by the RCMP Act, which assigns the control and management of
the force to the Commissioner under the direction of Public Safety and
Emergency Preparedness Canada.
- Division commanding officers are accountable to the Commissioner
and act under the provincial/territorial attorneys/solicitors general
in the administration of justice and the implementation of provincial/territorial
policing objectives, priorities and goals.
- At the detachment or unit level, the community policing officer, in
consultation with the community/neighbourhood consultative committee,
is responsible for meeting the individual policing needs of each community.
|