Economics of Policing and Community Safety

The Economics of Policing and Community Safety is about the evolution and sustainability of policing. It is about keeping people safe in an environment where, regardless of the challenges, we are open to innovation and reform.

At a time of fiscal challenges for many jurisdictions, governments and police services share a common goal of keeping people and communities safe, while ensuring policing services are delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible. Public Safety Canada is committed to working with provinces, territories and other stakeholders to help address the challenges facing Canadian police services.

Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers on the Economics of Policing and Community Safety

In January 2012, Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) Ministers Responsible for Justice and Public Safety had an initial discussion on the “economics of policing” and agreed to hold a Summit on the subject. At a subsequent meeting in late 2012, FPT Ministers further agreed that a key outcome for the Summit was to lay the foundation for the development of a Shared Forward Agenda for policing in Canada.

Additionally, Ministers agreed to share information across jurisdictions on new and innovative approaches to policing and community safety. A FPT working group was convened to collect information from all governments and police services on initiatives that aim to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of policing in Canada.

Shared Forward Agenda

The Economics of Policing and Community Safety is a key policy and research priority for Public Safety Canada, FPT Ministers Responsible for Justice and Public Safety, and the policing community. Acting on the direction from FPT Ministers, Public Safety Canada worked with the provincial and territorial governments, police and other stakeholders to develop the Shared Forward Agenda , which was the first step to creating a strategy for the future of policing in Canada. In November 2013, the Phase I initiatives of the Shared Forward Agenda were approved by the FPT Ministers, followed by Phase II initiatives in October 2014.

The approval of the Shared Forward Agenda signified a collective first step and an indication that the leadership and responsibility for further development and implementation of specific actions to improve policing in Canada are a joint venture across governments and in partnership with the policing and public safety community. The Shared Forward Agenda is about cooperating collectively while respecting jurisdictional responsibilities for policing and adopting a comprehensive approach to public safety.

Towards Sustainability

Public Safety Canada has been working with provincial and territorial governments, police services, academics, and other stakeholders to raise awareness and maintain the momentum of innovation and reform towards increasing policing efficiency and effectiveness. To accomplish this, Public Safety Canada hosted or co-hosted several events:

• The 2015 Summit on the Economics of Policing and Community Safety: Innovation and Partnerships held in Ottawa, Ontario (March 2-4, 2015) provided practical information to the policing community on innovative approaches and partnerships. The Summit offered an opportunity for open discussion among the policing community on a vision for Canadian policing and community safety.
• The Economics of Policing and Community Safety - Policy Makers' Dialogue on Privacy and Information Sharing - Workshop held in Ottawa, Ontario (January 20-21, 2015) discussed information sharing and privacy issues within the context of multi-sector collaboration models.
• The Economics of Policing: National Policing Research Symposium held in Vancouver, British Columbia (March 5-7, 2014) aimed to advance the Shared Forward Agenda plan for policing research in Canada.
• Economics of Policing: Police Education and Learning Summit held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (September 17-18, 2013) aimed to explore and identify learning needs and priorities for Canadian police in the context of the larger Economics of Policing dialogue.
• The 2013 Summit on the Economics of Policing: Strengthening Canada's Policing Advantage held in Ottawa, Ontario (January 16-17, 2013) aimed to increase awareness of the challenges and opportunities facing policing, provide practical information on improving efficiency and effectiveness, and strengthen the foundation for innovation and reform in Canadian policing.

Public Safety Canada is working on further priorities and projects to build upon the Shared Forward Agenda, and to advance the efficiency and effectiveness of policing in Canada.

Policing and Community Safety Research

The Policing and Community Safety Research webpage disseminates policing research and related information to support the development of evidence-based approaches to innovation and reform.

The Index of Policing Initiatives is a database of innovative initiatives submitted by police services and governments from across Canada, providing information on activities that contribute to the efficient and effective evolution of policing. The Index allows police services to learn from one another's experiences and best practices, and is the first police information sharing tool of its kind in Canada.

The Canadian Policing Research Catalogue consolidates and makes available research material on policing conducted by academics, police services, governments and other researchers. It addresses a major gap in policing research in Canada.

Date modified:

2018-02-14