Structure and Role of the Police

Question 1

What are the Primary Activities of the Police?

Answer 1

1. Crime control
2. Order maintenance
3. Crime prevention and service

Question 2

What is Crime Control?

Answer 2

• Responding to and investigating crimes
• Patrolling the streets to prevent offences

Question 3

What is Order Maintenance?

Answer 3

• Preventing and controlling behaviour
• Intervening in conflicts that arise between citizens

Question 4

What is Crime Prevention and Service?

Answer 4

• Collaborating with community partners to prevent crime
• Providing a wide range of services

Question 5

What are the four values of police work in a democratic society?

Answer 5

1. Justice: Police maintain peace and security in the community while ensuring that individuals are treated fairly and human rights are respected
2. Equality: All citizens are entitled to policing services that contribute to their feelings of safety and secruity
3. Accountability: The actions of police services and police officers are subject to review
4. Efficiency: Policing services must be cost-effective

Question 6

What are the four levels of law enforcement in Canada?

Answer 6

1. Federal
2. Provincial
3. Municipal
4. First Nations

Question 7

What are Police Acts?

Answer 7

Provide the legislative framework within which police services are structured and delivered and set out the principles of policing

Question 8

What are Policing Standards?

Answer 8

Policing Standards are the roles and responsibilities of teh police

Question 9

Royal Canadian Mounted Police
(RCMP)

Answer 9

• Federal level
• Over 672 detachments (office) across Canada (covers about 25% of policing in canada)
• Broad range of activities, including international peacekeeping

Question 10

Provincial Law Enforcement

Answer 10

3 Forces in Canada:
* Ontario Provincial Police (OPP, 183 offices, established in 1909) is one of the biggest Provincial forces in Canada
* Surete du Quebec (SQ, 87 detachments, established in 1870)
* Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC, 4 detachments, established in 1729)

Question 11

Municipal Law Enforcement

Answer 11

e.g. Vancouver, Port moody
* Many municipalities have their own law enforcement agency
* Municipal agencies combined make up largest proportion of officers in Canada
* Outside of the municipality is covered by the RCMP

Question 12

Indigenous Law Enforcement

Answer 12

• Two options for law enforcement within Nations:
• RCMP
• Autonomous (freedom to govern itself) Indigenous policing agency
• Oversight by nation-based police commission or band council (roughly 35 policing agencies)

Question 13

Private Secutiry Services

Answer 13

Two main types of security services:
- e.g SFU whicch has private security and a hired security group
- Private security personnel have no more legal authority than ordinary citizens
- In Canada, private security officers outnumber police officers by four to one

Question 14

Organization of Police Forces

Answer 14

• Operational patrol: Patrol division, dog or canine unit
• Investigative: General investigation, major crimes, special crimes (e.g., sexual offences)
• Support services: Victim assistant
• Administrative: Property office
• Human resources: Staff development, recruiting, training
• Research and planning: Strategic planning, crime analysis

Question 15

Challenges in Police Work

Answer 15

• Work environment
• Occupational stress injuries (e.g., PTSD)