Contract Policing

The RCMP provides policing services to the provinces, territories and municipalities under contract with the federal government through Public Safety Canada. This includes:

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• See how the RCMP Client Service Enhancement Project is working with communities to improve policing services.
• Frontline Policing

• 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.
• The current Provincial Police Services Agreement was negotiated in 1992, and expires March 31, 2012.
• More than 200 individual municipalities have also made policing agreements with 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.

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Aboriginal policing

• RCMP provides general policing services to more than 165 Aboriginal 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 are 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.

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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 Canada.
• Commanding Officers in the divisions 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.
• Commanding Officers are also 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.

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