Levels of Police in Levels of Police in CanadaCanada

Law 120Law 120

Policing in CanadaPolicing in Canada The most expensive component of justice system The most expensive component of justice system

in Canada is policing. in Canada is policing.

Police force costs about six billion dollars annually Police force costs about six billion dollars annually and includes almost 60,000 police officers at three and includes almost 60,000 police officers at three different levels: different levels:

– FederalFederal– ProvincialProvincial– MunicipalMunicipal

Since the 1970’s, arrangements have also been Since the 1970’s, arrangements have also been made for Aboriginal police forces to serve many of made for Aboriginal police forces to serve many of the Aboriginal communities in Canada.the Aboriginal communities in Canada.

Federal PoliceFederal Police The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) was formed in The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) was formed in

1873 as the North-West Mounted Police and are now the 1873 as the North-West Mounted Police and are now the federal police force in Canada. federal police force in Canada.

They provide investigative and protective services to the They provide investigative and protective services to the federal government and serve as the provincial police (as federal government and serve as the provincial police (as well as municipal police in some areas) in all provinces and well as municipal police in some areas) in all provinces and territories except Ontario and Quebec. territories except Ontario and Quebec.

In Nunavut, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, the In Nunavut, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, the RCMP is the only operating police force, although this RCMP is the only operating police force, although this arrangement may change if Aboriginal Police Forces are arrangement may change if Aboriginal Police Forces are established in these areas.established in these areas.

Federal Police - RCMPFederal Police - RCMP RCMP’s work focuses on the following eight areas:RCMP’s work focuses on the following eight areas:

1.1. Customs and ExciseCustoms and Excise – investigates cases of international smuggling/ enforces – investigates cases of international smuggling/ enforces the Customs Act in isolated areas of the country. Excise duties are taxes the Customs Act in isolated areas of the country. Excise duties are taxes collected on goods produced in Canada, such as cigarettes and alcohol. The collected on goods produced in Canada, such as cigarettes and alcohol. The Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency imposes these taxes and the RCMP Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency imposes these taxes and the RCMP investigates violations of the Excise Act.investigates violations of the Excise Act.

2.2. Drug EnforcementDrug Enforcement - enforces the laws identified in the Controlled Drugs and - enforces the laws identified in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. This branch of the RCMP consists of about 1000 officers who Substances Act. This branch of the RCMP consists of about 1000 officers who give the highest priority to cases involving international and interprovincial give the highest priority to cases involving international and interprovincial drug smuggling.drug smuggling.

3.3. Economic CrimeEconomic Crime – focuses on commercial fraud, organized crime, – focuses on commercial fraud, organized crime, technological crime, and securities fraud. This branch also works with the Bank technological crime, and securities fraud. This branch also works with the Bank of Canada to deliver early warnings to local police of currency counterfeiting of Canada to deliver early warnings to local police of currency counterfeiting activity.activity.

4.4. Federal PolicingFederal Policing - enforces 286 federal laws and 17 sets of regulations that - enforces 286 federal laws and 17 sets of regulations that cover such areas as hazardous waste transportation, environmental laws, cover such areas as hazardous waste transportation, environmental laws, explosives, vehicle odometer tampering, student loans, and other public safety explosives, vehicle odometer tampering, student loans, and other public safety and consumer protection issues.and consumer protection issues.

Federal Police - RCMPFederal Police - RCMP5.5. ImmigrationImmigration – gathers information on the smuggling of aliens into Canada – gathers information on the smuggling of aliens into Canada

and the counterfeiting of passports and visas. This branch also works with and the counterfeiting of passports and visas. This branch also works with Immigration Canada to screen out immigration applicants who are members Immigration Canada to screen out immigration applicants who are members of criminal organizations or perpetrators of war crimes and acts of terrorism.of criminal organizations or perpetrators of war crimes and acts of terrorism.

6.6. Proceeds of CrimeProceeds of Crime – division identifies and confiscates money or property – division identifies and confiscates money or property that has been acquired through criminal activities.that has been acquired through criminal activities.

7.7. Criminal IntelligenceCriminal Intelligence – specializes in gathering – specializes in gathering intelligenceintelligence, or , or information, on organized crime and terrorist groups.information, on organized crime and terrorist groups.

8.8. International Liaison and Protective ServicesInternational Liaison and Protective Services – provides security for – provides security for federal officials and visiting heads of state. This division also co-operates federal officials and visiting heads of state. This division also co-operates with foreign police agencies such as Interpol (International Criminal Police with foreign police agencies such as Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization).Organization).

It is important to note that policing in these eight areas is not done exclusively It is important to note that policing in these eight areas is not done exclusively by the RCMP. Provincial and municipal police forces and other provincial by the RCMP. Provincial and municipal police forces and other provincial and federal agencies often work together to enforce the law in these areas.and federal agencies often work together to enforce the law in these areas.

Provincial PoliceProvincial Police Provincial police forces have jurisdiction in rural areas and in Provincial police forces have jurisdiction in rural areas and in

unincorporated regions around cities. The largest of these forces is the unincorporated regions around cities. The largest of these forces is the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP),Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), followed by the followed by the Sureté du QuebecSureté du Quebec and and the the Royal Newfoundland ConstabularyRoyal Newfoundland Constabulary. In other provinces and in other . In other provinces and in other areas of NFLD and Lab. the RCMP operates as the provincial police.areas of NFLD and Lab. the RCMP operates as the provincial police.

Using the Ontario Provincial Police as an example of a provincial police Using the Ontario Provincial Police as an example of a provincial police force, these are the areas of responsibility they cover:force, these are the areas of responsibility they cover:

– Policing municipalities that are not required by law to maintain their own Policing municipalities that are not required by law to maintain their own police forcepolice force

– Responding to municipal police requests for special assistance in Responding to municipal police requests for special assistance in emergenciesemergencies

– Providing traffic control on all 400-series and major highways, including Providing traffic control on all 400-series and major highways, including those sections that are in the jurisdiction of municipal police forcesthose sections that are in the jurisdiction of municipal police forces

– Providing investigative services on request to the coroner’s office and to Providing investigative services on request to the coroner’s office and to other police ministriesother police ministries

– Performing other assigned duties such as maintaining the provincial Performing other assigned duties such as maintaining the provincial firearms registry, providing security and protecting government officials and firearms registry, providing security and protecting government officials and dignitaries.dignitaries.

Municipal PoliceMunicipal Police Jurisdiction in towns/cities funded by each municipalityJurisdiction in towns/cities funded by each municipality

Smaller towns/cities without municipal funds for their forces use Smaller towns/cities without municipal funds for their forces use provincial police or RCMP.provincial police or RCMP.

municipal police force organized into numbered divisions that service municipal police force organized into numbered divisions that service local community. Divisions then sub-divided into specialized crime local community. Divisions then sub-divided into specialized crime squadssquads– Ex. Gang Crime Unit, Robbery Squad, Homicide Squad and Explosives Ex. Gang Crime Unit, Robbery Squad, Homicide Squad and Explosives

Disposal Unit.Disposal Unit.

A municipal police officer’s duties:A municipal police officer’s duties:– Preserving the peacePreserving the peace– Preventing crimes from occurringPreventing crimes from occurring– Assisting victims of crimeAssisting victims of crime– Apprehending criminalsApprehending criminals– Laying charges and participating in prosecutionsLaying charges and participating in prosecutions– Executing warrantsExecuting warrants– Enforcing municipal bylawsEnforcing municipal bylaws

Aboriginal PoliceAboriginal Police The First Nations Policing Policy administered by the The First Nations Policing Policy administered by the

Dept. of the Solicitor General Dept. of the Solicitor General

a partnership among the federal/provincial/territorial a partnership among the federal/provincial/territorial governments and the Aboriginal peoples to develop governments and the Aboriginal peoples to develop police services for Aboriginal communities. police services for Aboriginal communities.

Each First Nation can make an agreement with the Each First Nation can make an agreement with the fed./prov. governments to establish standalone fed./prov. governments to establish standalone Aboriginal Police Forces or to develop First Nations Aboriginal Police Forces or to develop First Nations contingents within existing forces. contingents within existing forces.

The goal of such police forces is to offer services that The goal of such police forces is to offer services that are both professional and sensitive to the needs of the are both professional and sensitive to the needs of the community.community.