Canada

FEATURE: The recent Building Bridges evidence-based policing conference in Ontario showcased efforts by policing to correct the mismatch between how crime is experienced and how it is measured, with a harm-focused framework pioneered by Barrie Police Service and London Police Service’s new gamification approach to hot-sport policing leading the way, as Policing Insight’s Matthew Wood reports.

ANALYSIS: While many experts believe the illegal wildlife trade is closely linked to crimes such as human trafficking, drug smuggling and money laundering, evidence has been thin on the ground; now new research from the University of Oxford’s Dr Michelle Anagnostou, Stellenbosch University PhD candidate Ashwell Glasson, Dr Brent Doberstein of the University of Waterloo, and Dr Peter Stoett of Ontario Tech University highlights the intersection between wildlife crime and organised crime networks in Canada.

FEATURE: This month’s Building Bridges Evidence-Based Policing Conference in Ontario saw the launch of 30Forward, Canada’s first national initiative dedicated to increasing the representation and improving the experiences of women in policing; Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend spoke to Barrie Police Service’s Inspector Val Gates, Co-creator and Co-lead for 30Forward, about the aim of the initiative, it’s collaboration with the 30x30 initiative in the US, and the importance of a cultural shift in policing.

FEATURE: With serious and organised crime recognised by Europol as one of the greatest security threats currently facing the EU, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the latest funding opportunities for police forces across the continent including the UK, as well as New Zealand and Canada, to develop projects seeking to improve the intelligence picture and the “enhanced prevention, detection and deterrence” of organised crime.

INTERVIEW: With policing in many countries increasingly acknowledging the damage to officer wellbeing from “toxic leadership” and “sanctuary trauma”, Laura Kloosterman, Executive Director of independent peer support charity Badge of Life Canada spoke to Policing Insight’s Matthew Wood about the toll of organisational stress, the importance of peer support being provided by an outside agency, and why the focus on both leadership and wellness should start early in an officer’s career.

INNOVATION: Waterloo Regional Police Service has become the first police force in Canada to adopt the stratified policing model, encouraging officers to change their focus to targeted crime suppression and prevention while increasing accountability at all levels and improving community engagement and multi-agency partnerships, as Deputy Chief Jen Davis told Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons.

INTERVIEW: In the second in a short series of interviews sharing the views and achievements of recent winners of International Association of Women Police awards, Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons spoke to former Vancouver PD Detective Constable Maire Kenny about her role in developing a pilot programme supporting indigenous victims of intimate partner violence – against a backdrop of decades of distrust of policing – which saw a surge in reporting and a strengthening of community relationships.

ANALYSIS: While concerns around the rise in Canada’s fentanyl use have focused on a rise in deaths and drug-related disorders, new research by Associate Professors Dr Marta-Marika Urbanik (University of Alberta), Dr Katharina Maier (University of Winnipeg), Dr Matthew Valasik (University of Alabama), and Wilfrid Laurier University Assistant Professor Dr Carolyn Greene, has highlighted the issue of drug gangs exploiting vulnerable people’s homes in Thunder Bay, Ontario, driving up homelessness and violence.

FREE SUBSCRIBER ACCESS: Policing Insight welcomes officers and staff from Canada's York Regional Police, who now have FREE subscriber access with the start of a new organisation wide subscription. They join a community of readers from many other UK and international police, government, academic, criminal justice and emergency services organisations with an interest in progressive policing. Read on to find out how to use your FREE subscriber access.

ANALYSIS: Bail reform was hotly debated topic during Canada’s recent federal election, and with several serious offences – including the murder of an Ontario police officer – committed by offenders who were on bail, it remains a talking point for many of those involved in the criminal justice system; Policing Insight’s Matthew Wood looks at the background to the debate, the views of various stakeholders, and the prospects of significant reform in the coming months.

LONG READ: The riots that affected many English cities last summer following the Southport murders highlighted the increasing difficulty for policing globally in responding to social media disinformation; Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend, a communications specialist, looks at the challenges that have faced police in the UK, Canada, Australia and the US in the response to digital communications, as well as efforts to use online platforms to better engage communities and build trust.

OPINION: The proposed Strong Borders Act, a bill currently before the Canadian Parliament, includes measures that will enable police to obtain information about an individual’s online activity by obtaining a warrant on a lower standard of reasonable suspicion of a crime, instead of probable cause; Thompson Rivers University Professor of Law Robert Diab argues that the new powers will turn tech companies such as Google, Apple, Shaw and Telus into agents of the state.

ANALYSIS: A recent court ruling on the routine use of in-custody strip searches of four teenage girls in youth detention found that the warrantless, standardless routine strip search of teenage prisoners is unreasonable, as is any law that authorizes it; Monika Lemke, PhD Candidate at Canada’s York University, believes the ruling importantly recognizes the goal of minimizing the use of strip searches in every context they are employed, and could have wider implications for Canadian policing generally.

FEATURE: The first spotlight report from the Ontario Inspector General of Policing Ryan Teschner looking at the policing of protests and major events has highlighted the changing shapes, frequency and complexity of demonstrations, as well as a policing model that puts too much demand on specific services, leaving officers facing significant fatigue and adding to recruitment challenges for the specialised role, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: The Seventh International Conference on Law Enforcement & Public Health (LEPH 2025), supported by Policing Insight as media partner, convenes in Ottawa, Canada, July 13-16, 2025, at a crucial moment when communities worldwide seek innovative approaches to public safety and health equity.

FREE SUBSCRIBER ACCESS: Policing Insight welcomes officers and staff from Ottawa Police Service, who now have FREE subscriber access with the start of a new organisation wide subscription. They join a community of readers from many other UK and international police, government, academic, criminal justice and emergency services organisations with an interest in progressive policing. Read on to find out how to use your FREE subscriber access.

INTERVIEW: RCMP Deputy Commissioner Jodie Boudreau, Vice-President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, believes its time “to get our swagger back” and restore pride in policing; she spoke to Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend about restoring confidence in the profession, working closely with Indigenous communities and other under-represented groups to build relationships and increase recruitment, and the strengths that new young officers can bring into the job.

FEATURE: A new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan launched by the Peel Police Service Board, which includes measures around new recruitment approaches, cultural competency training, and strengthening community relationships, aims to make Peel Regional Police “the most progressive, innovative and inclusive police service in Canada”, as Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons reports.

Canadian Order of Merit: We are pleased to publish and recognise the recipients of the 2025 Canadian Order of Merit of the Police Forces. The team at Policing Insight offer our congratulations and thank all the recipients for their service and contribution to their communities.

FREE SUBSCRIBER ACCESS: Policing Insight welcomes staff from the Swiss Police Institute, who now have FREE subscriber access with the start of a new organisation wide subscription. They join a community of readers from many other UK and international academic, government, police, criminal justice and emergency services organisations with an interest in progressive policing. Read on to find out how to use your FREE subscriber access.

OPINION: With Canadian homicide rates increasing by 50% over the past 10 years, Carleton University PhD candidate Jeffrey Bradley and Professor Irvin Waller of the University of Ottawa argue that to reverse the trend, newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney will need to follow successful examples from the UK and US and invest significantly in crime prevention and youth outreach programmes.

INTERVIEW: Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh took up the top job with Canada’s Lethbridge Police Service in the aftermath of a reputational crisis for the organisation, and set about building stronger, trust-based relationships with both the community and the workforce; as he approaches five years in posts, he spoke to Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend about the progress that has been made, his leadership style, and the importance of creating and maintaining a sense of shared ownership.

FREE SUBSCRIBER ACCESS: Policing Insight welcomes students and staff from Canada's Wilfrid Laurier University, who now have FREE subscriber access with the start of a new organisation wide subscription. They join a community of readers from many other UK and international academic, government, police, criminal justice and emergency services organisations with an interest in progressive policing. Read on to find out how to use your FREE subscriber access.

INTERVIEW: With a string background in education and academia, Durham Regional Police Service Director of Strategy, Research and Organisational Performance Dr Vidal Chavannes one of Canada’s leading advocates of evidence-based policing; he spoke to Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend about the importance of data-driven criminal justice, the challenges around addressing disproportionality, and the need to ensure that the data published and used within policing is given adequate context.