RCMP Fact Sheets

Contract Policing

QUICK FACTS • Provinces and territories in Canada (except Ontario and Quebec) have contracts with the federal government for policing services, which are delivered by the RCMP. This is the origin of the term “contract policing”. • In addition to providing policing services to provinces and territories, the RCMP serves more than 200 municipalities and 165 Aboriginal communities across Canada. • The current Provincial Police Services Agreement (PPSA) was negotiated in 1992, and expires March 31, 2012.

Overview
The RCMP provides policing services to the provinces, territories and municipalities under contract with the federal government through Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC). RCMP members provide these services by enforcing laws, maintaining peace and order, protecting peoples’ lives and property, and investigating, detecting and preventing crime.

Description
Over 200 individual municipalities have made policing agreements with the Government of Canada in the contract provinces and territories. In British Columbia, the provincial policing agreement with the federal government allows the RCMP to provide municipal police service in certain municipalities.

Community Policing
The RCMP follows the community policing service delivery model when delivering its services.

By working with the people and groups in a community, police and citizens can help prevent crime and identify their social needs together. Communities play an important part in contract policing because they are most familiar with their own neighbourhoods.

They help recognize problem areas, and decide what the community policing needs are. Many communities are active partners in police tasks. They work in crime prevention services, support operations, and volunteer to help victims of crime or to promote safety.

Communities are also able to benefit from the RCMP’s role as a federal police service. RCMP members enforce federal statutes and can call upon experts from across the country to assist in major investigations, emergencies, and special events when required.

Aboriginal Community Policing
The RCMP provides general policing services to Aboriginal communities located in the contract provinces and territories. Satellite offices have been established in many First Nation communities, allowing the RCMP to develop close ties with Canada’s Aboriginal people. Understanding Aboriginal culture is an important aspect of this partnership, allowing the RCMP to better serve these communities.

The RCMP has a number of Aboriginal members and continues to seek qualified Aboriginals, among others, to become part of the organization.

How Contract Policing is Organized
The RCMP is divided into Divisions, which coincide with each province and territory. There are 15 Divisions, including the RCMP Headquarters in Ottawa and Depot, the training academy in Regina, Saskatchewan. Divisions in Ontario and Quebec are not included in contract policing agreements. Divisions contain districts where groups of detachments are located. A detachment is an office or building where RCMP members are stationed to provide law enforcement and crime prevention services within certain boundaries. The majority of contract police services are delivered by the detachment members.

Detachment members meet with community leaders and citizens to develop plans of action that will meet the specific needs of the community. While most plans of action are developed at the detachment level, specialized units and operational support groups from the division are sometimes used to assist in their implementation. One example of this additional support is if there is a major motor vehicle collision or crime where traffic and crime analysts are needed. Another instance is if a person is lost and police service dogs or air services are needed to assist the search effort. Specialized support services are always available to help the uniformed member perform his or her duties.

How the RCMP Manages its Work
Management of RCMP contract policing is governed in part by terms of the current policing agreements. In general, the Commissioner of the RCMP controls the internal management of the organization, including administering and applying professional police procedures. The RCMP Act assigns the control and management of the RCMP to the Commissioner under the direction of PSEPC.

Provincial and territorial Ministers are also involved in determining how the RCMP performs, according to their authority as set out in the Provincial/Territorial Police Agreements. Provincial and territorial attorneys general can direct the RCMP to enforce the Criminal Code, as well as certain provincial statutes, municipal bylaws, and territorial ordinances. Another responsibility of the provincial/territorial Ministers is to determine the overall policing priorities, objectives, and goals for their province or territory. They also take part in decisions concerning service levels and the location of detachments.

The Commanding Officer of a division is always directly accountable to the Commissioner of the RCMP for the delivery of police services. The Commanding Officer also works in collaboration with the provincial or territorial Ministers in order to meet the policing objectives, priorities, and goals that are specific to their province or territory. Commanding Officers are operationally responsible for police services delivered by the detachments or units in their divisions. Detachment commanders oversee the work of the RCMP’s front line officers.

The management of contract policing is a collaborative effort with partners working together to combine the policing needs of the province with those of a national law enforcement agency.

Contract policing involves a number of partnerships, which contribute to the increased safety and well-being of all people in communities across Canada.