BC Policing and Community Safety Plan - Ministry of Justice ...

Police Services Division assists the director of police services to superintend policing and law enforcement inBritish Columbia. Responsibilities include: monitoring provincial and municipal RCMP policing agreements;establishing provincial policing standards and monitoring compliance; administering programs such as theorganized crime, guns and gangs portfolio, First Nations policing agreements and enhanced road safety initiatives;providing training and support to police governance boards; developing policing policy and legislation;providing leadership with respect to policing services delivery and technology; managing non-police lawenforcement appointments and activity (e.g., special provincial constables); and reporting on provincial crimeand police data.Security Programs Division is responsible for regulating the private security industry and administering programsto protect children and vulnerable adults. These include maintaining records of protection orders, andscreening persons who work with children and vulnerable adults in provincially funded or regulated occupations.Security Programs Division is also responsible for regulating metal dealers and recyclers, and the sale ofbody armour and armoured vehicles.Reform initiatives underway or recently completed•¡RCMP policing agreementsAs noted, the Province of British Columbia recently renewed the RCMP Agreements. A new preamble has beenadded which lays the foundation for a strong, collaborative, and cooperative relationship between the contractpartners (Public Safety Canada, the RCMP, and the provincial government). The preamble describes thepartners’ commitment to working together to ensure all contract partners are involved in decisions concerningsubstantive issues affecting the cost, quality, governance and delivery of services provided by the RCMPProvincial Police Force.Under the 2012 Agreements, the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Contract Management Committee (CMC) replacesthe Contract Advisory Committee that was responsible under the 1992 Agreements for dealing with issuesarising from the implementation of those Agreements. The change in terminology (“management” insteadof “advisory”) reflects the strengthened accountability, governance, and reporting provisions as well as theexpanded role of the new committee in managing and implementing the Agreements.As British Columbia’s Provincial Police Force, the RCMP delivers services according to the strategic directionof the provincial government. The Minister of Justice sets the objectives, priorities and goals of the ProvincialPolice Force in line with provincial policing priorities. These are based on local needs, the evolving nature ofcrime and the specific requirements of policing in British Columbia. The Commanding Officer (CO) must ensurethat the deployment of personnel and equipment reflects these priorities. Every year, the CO must submit areport to the minister describing the progress towards implementing and achieving the priorities, goals andobjectives. (Article 7)The Province of British Columbia is responsible for setting standards for all police agencies in the province andnew provisions in the 2012 Agreements require the Commissioner to meet or exceed these standards. 2 Thismeans all police agencies in British Columbia will be subject to the same provincial standards. Further, whenthe RCMP is considering changing or creating new national standards, they must table the issue with CMC andseek agreement on a way forward. (sub article 6.5)2 Unless doing so is not possible because it would contradict the law or negatively affect the RCMP’s abilityto deliver effective and efficient police services or negatively affect public or officer safety.14BRITISH COLUMBIA POLICING AND COMMUNITY SAFETY PLAN