Transcript Levels of Police in Canada

Levels of Police in Canada
Law in Action – Ch. 8
• Canadian Criminal Justice System = policing,
courts, correctional system
• Policing is the most expensive part of this
system:
– +65,000 officers at 3 levels (fed.,prov.,munic.)
– cost of +$60 billion/yr.
Federal Police:
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) – formed
in 1873 as the NWMP
• Provide protective and investigative services to
the federal govt.
• Also act as a provincial force in all provinces
except Ont. And Que.
• Also act as a municipal force in some
communities
• In NWT, Yukon and Nunavut – only police force
• Most of their work at the federal level is
focused on the following areas:
– Customs and Excise – international smuggling,
taxation enforcement etc.
– Drug Enforcement – enforces “Controlled Drugs &
Substances Act” + interprov./internat. smuggling
– Economic Crime – commercial fraud, organized
crime, securities fraud, counterfeiting…
– Federal Policing – environmental law, consumer
protection, public safety…
– Immigration – smuggling of aliens, false passports
and visas etc…
– Proceeds of Crime – identifies and confiscates
money and property acquired through illegal
activities…
– Criminal Intelligence – gathers info. On organized
crime and terrorist groups
– International Liasion and Protective Services –
provides security for federal officials and visiting
heads of state; cooperates with Interpol etc…
Provincial Police
• Have jurisdiction in rural areas and
unincorporated regions around cities
• Largest force = Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)
• Also – Surete du Quebec and Royal
Newfoundland Constabulary
• In all other provinces (and in parts of NFLD)
the RCMP act as provincial police
• The responsibilities of provincial
police include:
– Policing municipalities that
do not have their own
– Responding to emergencies
– Providing traffic control on
major highways
– Providing investigative services to the coroner and
other Provincial ministries
– Maintaining security at Provincial govt. buildings
and providing security to visiting officials etc.
Municipal Police
• Have jurisdiction over policing in towns and cities
throughout Canada
– E.g: Vancouver, West Van., Abbotsford, Delta…
• Each municipality funds its own police force
• Smaller towns which cannot afford it, or choose
not to, use the RCMP
– E.g: Surrey, Ridge-Meadows, Coquitlam, Mission…
• Municipal forces are organized into Divisions
• Divisions are divided into specialized Squads –
Homicide, Robbery, Gangs, K9….
• A municipal officer’s duties
may include:
– Preserving the peace
– Crime prevention
– Assisting victims of crime
– Apprehending criminals
– Laying charges and participating
in prosecutions
– Executing warrants
– Enforcing municipal by-laws
Aboriginal Police
• The First Nations Policing Policy is administered
by the Dept. of Solicitor General
• Each First Nation can enter into an agreement
with the Fed. and Prov. govts. to establish “stand
alone” police forces or develop a First Nations
contingent within an existing force
• Dakota-Ojibway Police Service = first stand alone
Aboriginal Police service estab. In 1977 in SW
Manitoba with 21 officers in 6 communities
• 1st RCMP detachment of Aboriginal officers
established in NB in 2000