Rural Crime

Classification: Unclassified

Branch/Agency: RCMP

Proposed Response:

Financial Implications:

All activities associated to this issue will be sourced from existing operational budgets.

Background:

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is Canada’s national police force and provides contract policing services to eight provinces, three territories, approximately 150 municipalities, and hundreds of Indigenous communities, as well as federal policing services for all Canadians. Given the geographic scope of Canada, much of the territory under RCMP jurisdiction is rural.

Policing rural and isolated communities may pose a number of complexities, including the demand it puts on police resources. The RCMP works with provinces and territories to evaluate needs and optimize the available resources for rural communities. As such, each jurisdiction may develop and pursue individual, customized initiatives to address the issue of rural crime, as opposed to a single national solution. Local priorities and crime prevention approaches are discussed regularly by community leaders and RCMP Detachment Commanders.

Examples of Rural Crime Initiatives:

National Level:
In 2018, the RCMP and the National Crime Stoppers Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a collaborative effort for solving crime. In addition, as a partner to the Federal Family Violence Initiative, the RCMP’s Vulnerable Persons Unit receives annual funding, which is distributed to RCMP detachments, non-profit community organizations, as well as municipal, provincial, and territorial partners to support communities in responding to, and reducing root causes of crime and family violence. Moreover, the RCMP implements youth-targeted crime prevention initiatives in an effort to reduce youth involvement in crime. For example, the RCMP hosts national Youth Leadership Workshops which brings together youth from across the country. More recently, the RCMP has created a rural crime reduction toolbox, which acts as a repository of best practices and is available to all members.
Province of Alberta:
In 2017, the Alberta RCMP implemented a comprehensive Crime Reduction Strategy as the foundational basis for the delivery of policing services to the people of Alberta. Built on proven methodologies and using evidence and intelligence, the Strategy takes a coordinated divisional approach to focus resources in vulnerable communities while leveraging the support of provincial and federal partners to address the root causes of crime to break the cycle of crime. Data spanning from 2017-2019 shows a decrease in the four key crime property indicators and the Crime Reduction Units continue to see success with more than 700 arrests per year.
Province of Saskatchewan:
In 2018, Crime Reduction Teams were created as part of the Divisional response to an increase in rural crime and gang activity. The established teams are mobile, tactical patrol units that use intelligence and covert information to target high risk offenders in communities across Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan RCMP have also piloted an Agricultural Investigation Section to address crime trends specific to the agriculture industry in Saskatchewan. This Section partners with provincial investigative agencies to provide subject matter expertise on crimes related to livestock and feed investigations, large scale frauds as well as criminal activity involving fertilizer and seed distribution.
Province of Manitoba:
The RCMP in Manitoba has also implemented a Crime Reduction Strategy that includes efforts to reduce incidents, severity, fear, and impact in rural communities. The objectives include forming partnerships, evidence-based service delivery, and results-based accountability. The focus of the strategy is on the root causes of crime, prolific offenders, and crime hot spots.
Province of Nova Scotia:
The RCMP in Nova Scotia has a Youth Intervention and Diversion Model within the province. The RCMP has 34 School Safety resource/community program officers who work in schools and communities on various crime reduction initiatives. These initiatives are linked directly to National and Divisional priorities including Cybercrime, Human Trafficking, Drugs and Road Safety.
Province of New Brunswick:
RCMP in “J” Division has been working closely with the provincial Department of Public Safety in support of a Crime Prevention and Reduction Strategy.  Launched in 2012, the strategy has three strategic priorities: intimate partner violence, chronic repeat offenders and vulnerable youth, with Indigenous and mental health lenses. Through research and engagement with multiple stakeholders, the strategy has been developed to ensure New Brunswick’s approaches to crime and victimization are evidence-based, co-ordinated to make the most of scarce resources, and focused on real outcomes in order to achieve greater community safety and enhanced well-being for all of New Brunswick’s citizens.
Indigenous Communities across Canada:
The RCMP works closely with Indigenous groups to develop innovative and culturally-sensitive and responsive policing approaches that meet their distinctive needs, helping to foster positive relationships with Indigenous communities, in the spirit of reconciliation. For example, the RCMP Commissioner has a National Indigenous Advisory Committee, comprised of representatives from RCMP Commanding Officers’ own advisory committees, and with whom the Commissioner meets bi-annually to seek strategic advice and cultural perspectives regarding the delivery of Indigenous policing services. Divisional Commanding Officers’ advisory committees exist to maintain and strengthen partnerships with Indigenous communities, and to help identify policing needs and mobilize the support of communities in addressing them.

Contacts:

Prepared by: Matthew Barthe, Policy Analyst, Contract and Indigenous Policing, RCMP, 613-843-5009

Approved by: Brian Brennan, Deputy Commissioner, Contract and Indigenous Policing, RCMP – 613-843-4632

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