Levels of Police in Canada Law 120 Policing

Levels of Police in Canada Law 120

Policing in Canada n The most expensive component of justice system in Canada is policing. n Police force costs about six billion dollars annually and includes almost 60, 000 police officers at three different levels: – Federal – Provincial – Municipal n Since the 1970’s, arrangements have also been made for Aboriginal police forces to serve many of the Aboriginal communities in Canada.

Federal Police n The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) was formed in 1873 as the North-West Mounted Police and are now the federal police force in Canada. n They provide investigative and protective services to the federal government and serve as the provincial police (as well as municipal police in some areas) in all provinces and territories except Ontario and Quebec. n In Nunavut, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, the RCMP is the only operating police force, although this arrangement may change if Aboriginal Police Forces are established in these areas.

Federal Police - RCMP n RCMP’s work focuses on the following eight areas: 1. Customs and Excise – investigates cases of international smuggling/ enforces 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 Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency imposes these taxes and the RCMP investigates violations of the Excise Act. 2. Drug Enforcement - enforces the laws identified in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. This branch of the RCMP consists of about 1000 officers who give the highest priority to cases involving international and interprovincial drug smuggling. 3. Economic Crime – focuses on commercial fraud, organized crime, technological crime, and securities fraud. This branch also works with the Bank of Canada to deliver early warnings to local police of currency counterfeiting activity. 4. Federal Policing - enforces 286 federal laws and 17 sets of regulations that cover such areas as hazardous waste transportation, environmental laws, explosives, vehicle odometer tampering, student loans, and other public safety and consumer protection issues.

Federal Police - RCMP 5. Immigration – gathers information on the smuggling of aliens into Canada and the counterfeiting of passports and visas. This branch also works with Immigration Canada to screen out immigration applicants who are members of criminal organizations or perpetrators of war crimes and acts of terrorism. 6. Proceeds of Crime – division identifies and confiscates money or property that has been acquired through criminal activities. 7. Criminal Intelligence – specializes in gathering intelligence, or information, on organized crime and terrorist groups. 8. International Liaison and Protective Services – provides security for federal officials and visiting heads of state. This division also co-operates with foreign police agencies such as Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization). 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 and federal agencies often work together to enforce the law in these areas.

Provincial Police n Provincial police forces have jurisdiction in rural areas and in unincorporated regions around cities. The largest of these forces is the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), followed by the Sureté du Quebec and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. In other provinces and in other areas of NFLD and Lab. the RCMP operates as the provincial police. n Using the Ontario Provincial Police as an example of a provincial police force, these are the areas of responsibility they cover: – Policing municipalities that are not required by law to maintain their own police force – Responding to municipal police requests for special assistance in emergencies – Providing traffic control on all 400 -series and major highways, including those sections that are in the jurisdiction of municipal police forces – Providing investigative services on request to the coroner’s office and to other police ministries – Performing other assigned duties such as maintaining the provincial firearms registry, providing security and protecting government officials and dignitaries.

Municipal Police n Jurisdiction in towns/cities funded by each municipality n Smaller towns/cities without municipal funds for their forces use provincial police or RCMP. n municipal police force organized into numbered divisions that service local community. Divisions then sub-divided into specialized crime squads – Ex. Gang Crime Unit, Robbery Squad, Homicide Squad and Explosives Disposal Unit. n A municipal police officer’s duties: – – – – Preserving the peace Preventing crimes from occurring Assisting victims of crime Apprehending criminals Laying charges and participating in prosecutions Executing warrants Enforcing municipal bylaws

Aboriginal Police n The First Nations Policing Policy administered by the Dept. of the Solicitor General n a partnership among the federal/provincial/territorial governments and the Aboriginal peoples to develop police services for Aboriginal communities. n Each First Nation can make an agreement with the fed. /prov. governments to establish standalone Aboriginal Police Forces or to develop First Nations contingents within existing forces. n The goal of such police forces is to offer services that are both professional and sensitive to the needs of the community.