Guidelines of First Nations policing

On this page

• Overview
• Structure of police services in First Nation communities
• Conferences
• Monitoring and reviews

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Overview

The federal government introduced the First Nations Policing Program to provide First Nation communities with policing services that are:

• Professional
• Effective
• Culturally appropriate
• Accountable to the communities they serve

The First Nations Policing Program offers resources to First Nations communities beyond what the provincial police service provides under the Provincial Police Service Agreement. Police officers providing enhanced services devote all their time to the policing needs of the First Nations communities.

Under the program, First Nations work with the RCMP to identify risks and develop policing services to enhance the safety of their communities.

The First Nations enhanced policing map shows the communities receiving these services.

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Structure of police services in First Nation communities

In 2014, the federal and provincial government signed a revised Framework Agreement for RCMP First Nations Community Policing Service in British Columbia.

The framework allows Canada, British Columbia, a First Nation community or a group of First Nations communities to enter a Community Tripartite Agreement for RCMP First Nations Community Policing Service.

Under a Community Tripartite Agreement, British Columbia pays 48 percent of policing costs and Canada pays 52 percent.

In 2014, the First Nations Community Policing Service had an authorized strength of 108.5 officers to provide enhanced policing services to approximately 130 First Nation communities in B.C. through 55 Community Tripartite Agreements.

Integrated units

A policing agreement between the province, the District of West Vancouver and the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh (Tslay-wa-tooth) First Nations created the RCMP and West Vancouver Police Department integrated First Nations policing unit. The agreement covers reserve lands located in North Vancouver, West Vancouver and the Squamish Valley.

Additionally, a policing agreement between Canada, the province, the Corporation of Delta and the Tsawwassen First Nation sees the Delta Police Department deliver enhanced policing to the Tsawwassen First Nation.

First Nations administered police services

The Stl'atl'imx (Stat-la-mick) Tribal Police Service is the only First Nations administered police service in British Columbia. The Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police Service is a designated policing unit under the Police Act. Its structure is modeled on an independent municipal police department.

For more information on the Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police Service, see our First Nations Policing page.

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Conferences

First Nation communities with an enhanced policing agreement are invited to participate in conferences that:

• Provide training to strengthen governance and delivery capacity
• Share information about lessons learned
• Address relevant policy and program issues
• Encourage and support collaborative relationships between all parties

These conferences have produced the following reports:

• January 2017 – Sharing–Collaboration–Community Safety – First Nations Policing Program Workshop
• March 2011 – Strengthening from Within – British Columbia Community Consultative Groups Workshop / Community Consultative Group Toolkit - Updated March 2017
• November 2008 – Continuing the Journey – Together – 4th Joint Conference on First Nations CTA Policing in B.C.
• February 2007 – Together – Walking One Path – 3rd Joint Conference on First Nations CTA Policing in B.C.
• October 2005 – Eagles – Watchmen – Peacekeepers II: Working Together to Protect the Community
• February 2004 – Eagles – Watchmen – Peacekeepers: Working Together to Protect the Community

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Monitoring and reviews

First Nation policing programs are monitored regularly to ensure that First Nations communities receive services that are:

• Culturally sensitive
• Responsive to the needs of the community
• An enhancement of the level of policing provided by the provincial police service

Monitoring activities include:

• Assessing if the First Nations community is actively involved in developing the objectives, priorities and goals of the police service
• Evaluating the police service to determine if it is effective and accountable to the community it serves
• Appraising the health of the relationship between the community and its police service

Monitoring includes site visits and the First Nations community completing an annual report. More extensive reviews are undertaken periodically.

Examples of reviews include:

• Examples of reviews include:2009-10 Evaluation of the First Nations Policing Program - 2010
• RCMP-FNCPS Review, Final Report – 2008