ARCHIVED - Canada’s Public Safety Minister concludes successful meetings with United Kingdom officials

OTTAWA – September 26, 2012 — Canada's Public Safety Minister, Vic Toews, met with senior officials in the United Kingdom (U.K.) today to discuss the economics of policing. The rising cost of policing is a significant issue for many countries, including Canada and the U.K., where efforts are underway to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of policing. While in the U.K., Minister Toews met with Sir Denis O'Connor, Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary; Mr. Andrew Haldenby, Director of the Reform Think Tank; and the heads of various policing services and associations. He also announced the Summit on the Economics of Policing to take place on January 16–17, 2013.

“Canadians benefit from excellent policing services and public safety, which are well respected internationally,” said Minister Toews. “The current economic climate challenges us to become even better and to tackle policing costs. It is an opportunity to assess and implement new ways of ensuring community safety; to learn from other jurisdictions ­­—both inside and outside of Canada—and look for areas for improvement in our own approach.”

In recent years, the U.K. has launched significant reforms in the area of policing, with the view of increasing cost effectiveness, while also enhancing policing practices. Today's meetings provided an opportunity to discuss these reforms, learn of results to date, and to consider if and how they might be helpful if applied in Canada.

In Canada, governments, policing organizations and police forces share a strong commitment to developing a sustainable policing model. Work is already underway to find innovative and practical ways to address rising policing costs and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of policing in Canada.

“In January 2013, my department, Public Safety Canada, will follow through on a commitment made at the January 2012 Federal/Provincial/Territorial meeting of Ministers Responsible for Justice and Public Safety by holding the Summit on the Economics of Policing,” said Minister Toews. “Officials from the United Kingdom will be invited to participate and share their experiences.”

The Government of Canada is committed to working with municipalities, provinces, territories and other stakeholders, such as the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, the Canadian Police Association and the Canadian Association of Police Boards, to help address the challenges facing our police services.

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Information:
Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657

Julie Carmichael
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Public Safety
613-991-2865

Date modified:

2015-11-26