Police forces - Canada

INTERVIEW: Not all emergency service personnel are comfortable talking to their organisation’s wellbeing teams when struggling with mental health issues or personal challenges; for former Ontario Police Constable Dave McLennan, the answer was straightforward – set up a confidential peer support line – as he explained to Policing Insight Deputy Editor Sarah Gibbons.

OPINION: Québec is currently experiencing its second province-wide pandemic curfew, introduced at the end of December in response to the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant; but for Brandon University’s Professor Christopher Schneider, the new restrictions bring with them a dangerous expansion in police discretionary powers that could lead to the inconsistent and unfair application of enforcement.

FEATURE: The latest report from the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security has highlighted the need for ‘co-ordinated international action’ to tackle cybercriminals’ aggressive use of ransomware – often with the backing of state actors – that has ‘devastating’ and ‘profound’ effects, as Policing Insight Editor Keith Potter reports.

LONG READ: The death of George Floyd shone the spotlight strongly on police use of force, but many police services and departments had already recognised concerns and were attempting to address the issue; however, the lack of data on the effectiveness of training in areas such as de-escalation have left it difficult to identify what works and why, as Policing Insight Contributing Editor Tina Orr-Munro reports.

ANALYSIS: With an increasingly complex crime landscape, police agencies are adopting more data-driven approaches – but what is the crime analysts’ view of the data they are working with? Saskatoon Police Service Divisional Crime Analyst John Ng* worked with Ontario Tech University Associate Professors Dr Christopher O’Connor and Dr Tyler Frederick, and PhD candidate Dallas Hill, to explore Canadian crime analysts’ perspectives on the quality, collection and use of police data.

FEATURE: Amid concerns that officers experiencing the mental health impact of critical firearms incidents were not receiving enough ‘return to work’ support, New Zealand Police have a adopted a peer-led approach to post-incident reintegration; Dr Anna Sutton of the University of Waikato explained to delegates at the recent Australia and New Zealand Society of Evidence-Based Policing (ANZSEBP) Conference how ongoing research to evaluate the programme could help to improve reintegration for affected officers.

FEATURE: Latest research on the wellbeing of frontline Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers found that more than three-quarters were experiencing high stress during the second round of the pandemic; but as Policing Insight Editor Keith Potter reports, it was policing culture, the political atmosphere and the lack of resources – rather than the job itself – which were the most stressful factors, even during COVID-19.

Interview: Transferring into An Garda Síochána from Toronto Police, Deputy Commissioner Shawna Coxon wondered how she would be received as 'an outsider' implementing their reform programme. She needn't have worried. Here she tells Policing Insight's Deputy Editor Sarah Gibbons about the warm welcome she's received, her frustrations at COVID restrictions limiting her walks on the beat and how the culturally rich policing style has her smitten.

OPINION: Operations by police and security teams to clear homeless encampments around the city of Toronto have been defended as an attempt to ensure the safety of occupants and the general public; however, Professor Joe Hermer of the University of Toronto argues that not only is this untrue, but it also represents a betrayal by police and the mayor, who had previously pledged to listen to and build a relationship with the city’s most marginalised and vulnerable people.

FEATURE: New Zealand Police have worked with Australia’s Griffith University to take a critical look at their command and control processes, and improve understanding of good leadership and effective management; speaking at the Australia and New Zealand Society of Evidence-Based Policing (ANZSEBP) Conference, Assistant Commissioner Tusha Penny and Professor Justin Ready outlined the findings of their work, and plans to share best practice and lessons learned across the organisation.

FEATURE: Last month the FBI and Australian Federal Police, working with the US Drug Enforcement Administration, Europol and police forces in 15 other countries, carried out a series of raids causing major disruption to criminal networks worldwide, thanks to information secured through a police-developed phone encryption app that had become a favourite with criminals; Policing Insight’s Andy Staniforth looks at the incredible success of Operation Trojan Shield.

FEATURE: A judge-led review of missing persons investigations in Canada – prompted by the murders of eight gay or bisexual men in the Toronto area by serial killer Bruce McArthur – has recommended a new approach to cases that draws on models from other countries including the UK; Policing Insight Deputy Editor Sarah Gibbons reports on the review, and the launch of an international database to share good practice.

OPINION: Levels of violent crime across America saw an unprecedented increase in 2020, and remain worryingly high in 2021; in this latest essay from the Violence Reduction Project, Dr Laura Huey, Professor of Sociology at the University of Western Ontario, argues that programs for ‘supportive reporting’ have the potential to reduce often unrecorded violence through increased reporting, not something easily dismissed.

OPINION: Canada already has strict gun laws in place, at least in comparison to its US neighbour; but Carleton University’s Noah Schwartz believes that attempts to introduce new American-style firearms legislation could create confusion and inconsistencies, while doing little to dissuade criminals from using guns.

INTERVIEW: An Garda Síochána's new Deputy Commissioner Shawna Coxon welcomes the extra scrutiny she will attract as an outsider joining the top team of the force from Toronto next month. Policing Insight Deputy Editor Sarah Gibbons talked to her about her role and how her change management experience and ability to think differently stand to benefit her new colleagues and the Irish community.

ANALYSIS: In the final part of their trilogy of articles on Canadian policing, Keith Taylor and Dr Barbara Herring of consultants perivale+taylor explore some of the developments and often unique challenges faced by the country’s law enforcement agencies in relation to diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism.

OPINION: With the debate around the legalisation of heroin back in the headlines, Professor Bill Bogart of the University of Windsor sets out the case for legalisation and strict regulation of all currently illegal narcotics, with decriminalisation as the first step towards resolving the failed war on drugs.

INTERVIEW: Former Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Bob Paulson looks at the problems the force faces around diversity and discrimination, the effects of unionisation, concerns over militarisation of the RCMP, and fears over the wider erosion of police independence, in the second part of his interview with Policing Insight.

FEATURE: It’s been a tough year for policing – and for communities generally – around the world, but as Christmas approaches, the police family are digging deep to help each other as well as those less fortunate; Australian-based nurse and mental health champion Melissa Gole highlights some of the many fundraising efforts that those within policing can support this festive season.

INTERVIEW: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is an iconic law enforcement agency, instantly recognisable and internationally renowned, but in recent years the force has faced more testing times and controversies than most; in this two-part interview, former RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson talks to Policing Insight about the challenges facing the Mounties.

OPINION: The police response to domestic abuse can traumatise victims for a second time, as the push to secure a prosecution leaves them feeling powerless and ignored; Professor Dawn Moore of Canada’s Carleton University warns that women can be as fearful of police as they are of their abusers.

OPINION: With policing resources under greater pressure than ever, prioritising police activity has never been more important; Professor Lawrence Sherman, Director of Research, Jerry Lee Centre for Experimental Criminology, at the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Criminology and crime harm index (CHI) pioneer, explains why the concept could be crucial for modern policing, ahead of a free, live CHI webinar tomorrow.

OPINION: In the wake of the killing of George Floyd in America, further deaths and injuries to members of the public following police use of force have led to major protests and campaigns for police reform around the world, including Canada; but Professor Temitope Oriola of the University of Alberta argues that achieving reform requires pressure on politicians rather than policing.

ANALYSIS: In the second in a series of three articles on Canadian policing, Keith Taylor and Gail Stephens of consultants perivale+taylor explore police governance in Canada, and the structures, legislation, membership and challenges relating to police boards.