Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (Details)

Name of province/ territory:

Alberta

City/ Region:

Province-wide

Description of Initiative:

Formed in 2006, Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) is a unique model that brings together, under one umbrella, Alberta’s various integrated policing units to strategically disrupt and dismantle serious and organized crime across the province, enhancing safety for all Albertans. ALERT provides strategic direction and coordination for existing integrated policing teams that investigate serious crimes such as drug trafficking, gangs and child exploitation.

The strength of the ALERT model lies in the integration of members from various agencies who have expertise in intelligence, enforcement and support services. Teams include:

• Alberta Specialized Law Enforcement Training
• Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit
• Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta
• Integrated Fugitive Apprehension Unit
• Integrated Threat Risk Assessment Centre
• Internet Child Exploitation
• Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods

Initiative Key Objectives:

The key objective of ALERT is to disrupt and dismantle serious and organized crime in Alberta through an integrated policing approach.

Section Responsible for Implementation:

With respect to the RCMP, ALERT works with 'K' Division Criminal Operations, Intelligence and Integration. Overall, ALERT is accountable to a civilian board of directors led operationally by the Provincial Executive Committee, which is made up of chiefs of police from several municipal police services as well as the D/Comm of RCMP 'K' Division. AJSG provides an ADM who sits as part of the board of directors.

Key Contact:

Supt. Ted MILES
TED.MILES@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Groups/ Agencies/ Key Partners Involved:

• other police services

Level of Involvement (consultative - information sharing) and/or cooperative - direct involvement):

Cooperative

Amount of Time Initiative has been in Place:

Since 2006.

Reason for Undertaking the Initiative:

The primary driver was the need for Alberta’s police agencies to work in a cooperative fashion. Timely sharing of key information was also a priority.

Resources Required to Implement this Initiative:

The annual ALERT budget in 2011-2012 was $55 million, of which $49 million was spent. The primary funding was from the Police Officer Recruitment Fund.

Method of Implementation:

ALERT was initiated with the establishment of Integrated Response to Organized Crime (IROC) teams in Edmonton and Calgary. The current configuration reflects substantial phased growth.

Key Outcomes of the Initiative:

By maintaining a province-wide focus and practicing intelligence-led policing, the ALERT model is proving successful. Since our inception in 2006, ALERT has arrested more than 4,700 people and laid about 12,000 charges. Between 2010 and 2012 ALERT was responsible for removing approximately $200 million worth of drugs off Alberta’s streets.

Availability of a Communication Strategy:

Yes

Key Messages used to Publicize the Initiative:

• ALERT brings together, under one umbrella, Alberta’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources to strategically disrupt and dismantle serious and organized crime.
• ALERT is a not-for-profit corporation established by the Government of Alberta and governed by a civilian board of directors that operates at arms-length from government.
• ALERT is a unique policing model that provides the overall coordination and strategic direction for disrupting and dismantling organized and serious crime in Alberta through collaborative, integrated policing.
• ALERT is not a new level of policing. It is an umbrella organization that coordinates and funds the efforts of existing integrated policing teams who work together to tackle serious and organized crime.
• ALERT units, made up of over 400 municipal police, RCMP members and sheriffs, target serious crimes involving gangs, drugs, organized crime, online child sexual exploitation and domestic violence.
• Statistics, collected by the ALERT units, are posted to the ALERT website.

Forms of Evaluation by which the Initiative will be Assessed:

• internal
• quantitative
• reputational

Evaluation Completed or Community Feedback Received:

No

Summary of the Outcomes:

ALERT has likely been the subject of a number of informal and/or ad hoc evaluations which have clearly supported the principles upon which it was founded.

Summary of the Performance Measure Data Collected:

N/A

Economics of Policing Pillars:

• Efficiencies within Police Services
• New Models of Community Safety

Further Details:

N/A

Additional Comments or Suggestions:

N/A

Record Entry Date:

2013-08-01