Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) - CAN

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: As we welcome in 2024, Policing Insight Editor Keith Potter looks back over what the past 12 months have meant for policing in the UK and internationally, how those issues have been covered by Policing Insight, and the continuing challenges and opportunities for the year ahead.

INTERVIEW: As the Chief of Winnipeg Police Service and President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Danny Smyth understands more than most about the challenges facing policing and police leadership in Canada and beyond; and as he explained to Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend, building community relationships, ensuring the wellbeing of officers, and preparing the next generation of leaders will all be vital to meeting those challenges.

ANALYSIS: Following Canada’s legalisation of cannabis, some cities are now looking to decriminalise personal possession of all illegal drugs, as a public health-driven response to the country’s opioid overdose crisis; Policing Insight’s Keith Potter looks at the background to the proposals, the qualified support from police chiefs such as Toronto’s James Ramer, and how the drug enforcement landscape is shifting.

OPINION: Young people stopped by police while carrying drugs for personal use often swallow the substance to avoid additional charges, with potentially life-threatening consequences. Assistant Professor and Pediatric Emergency Physician Dr Kirstin Weerdenburg, and Kristyn Anderson, a Clinical Social Worker and PhD student, both of Dalhousie University, believe police discretion and decriminalisation are the way forward.

OPINION: A report by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) backed the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use; Professor Bill Bogart explores whether the country is ready and willing to take that step.

ANALYSIS: In October 2018, Canada became the first G7 and G20 nation to regulate cannabis. Professor Bill Bogart of the University of Windsor discusses the recent report by Transform, the British think tank focused on the reform of drug laws, which argues that Canada’s programme to legalise and regulate cannabis has gone well.

INTERVIEW: In the second part of our interview with former CACP Executive Director Bill Moore, the veteran officer explores key issues including the role of the Chiefs’ Association, the legalisation of cannabis, and how analytics may have an important part to play in shaping the future of Canadian policing.

INTERVIEW: Canada’s vast landscape and diverse cultures and communities bring with them their own unique policing challenges. In the first half of a two-part interview, Bill Moore, the former head of the country’s police leaders’ association and a veteran officer with a 31-year career, provides an insight into the key issues for Canadian policing.

Analysis: At 9.9 million square kilometres, the UK can fit into Canada 40 times. Perivale and Taylor Consulting Vice President Robert Taylor and Senior Associate and Police ICT Specialist Kevin McQuiggin examine how policing has evolved in this vast country.