Australian and Canadian Police Models

AUSTRALIAN and CANADIAN POLICE MODELS
Australia is an island country of approximately 25 million people located in the southern

hemisphere. Previously an English colony, Australia obtained independence in 1901
and consists of a federation divided into six (6) States Victoria, New South Wales,
Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia -and the two (2)
Territories-The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Northern Territory. The
division of legislative power and administrative responsibility between the Federal and
State parliaments is governed by Australian Constitution, with the head of State being
the British Monarch.
As a former English colony, the Australian legal system is based on English common
law with the High Court located in the federal capital, Canberra serving as the final court
of appeal for both the Federal and State Courts.
Policing in Australia has local and national levels. States have its own local police and
territorial services which are mandated to prevent crimes and maintain public order.
They also perform a range of other public function including assisting emergency
services. In each of the State and territory police services, the police are organized
according to a strict hierarchy under the control of a Commissioner. The Commissioner
answers directly to the relevant State Minister, who despite often having little
involvement in the conduct of police Operations or planning, bears overall responsibility
for the police service in his/her jurisdiction.
As to its national police service, Australia has the Australian Federal Police (AFP) under
the Home Affairs Ministry. Its primary role is to enforce Federal criminal law, and to act
as Australia’s international law enforcement and policing representative. Nevertheless, it
provides local policing for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and a number of its
external territories. In particular, Australian Federal Police are mandated to prevent and
investigate transnational crimes, money laundering, organized crime, major fraud, drug
trafficking and internet-related crimes. Its mission is “To fight crime together and win by
providing dynamic and effective law enforcement to the people of Australia”. ‘
Australian police has a ratio of 1 police officer for every 415 inhabitants, and women
constitute approximately 30% of all police officers. Entry qualification vary according to
State and Territory, but all police recruits are required to have at least completed their
secondary education before entering the police force. Recruits to the Australian Federal
Police (AFP) are encouraged to obtain some form of University qualification before
entry. They are also required to have a confirmation of ability to swim 100 meters
freestyle non-stop unaided. Entry age is 18 and retirement is 52.
Training in the Australian police also varies according to State and Territory, with the
average training program lasting approximately 18 months. It is divided between
classroom-based instruction at the relevant police academy and periods of on-the-job
training experience. It is competency-based and involves regular feedback and
assessment. Course module include law, evidence, procedure, investigation technique,
police powers, intelligence process, defensive skills, firearms and driver training.
Police Discretion and Complaints
In general, Australian Police cannot search any premises or seized personal property
without warrant. However, in most States and Territories seizures of illegal drugs or
weapons does not require permission by warrant. All police officers carry a .38 caliber
revolver; the use of semiautomatic firearms and other specialized weapons is restricted
to specially trained squad.
Filing of complaints against the police officer also vary, and they have the following
disciplinary machinery, such as: Federal Ombudsman, State Ombudsman, Independent
Commission Against Corruption, Police Internal Affairs Department, Criminal Justice
Commission, Police Complaints Authority and Territory Ombudsman
Best Known Practice.
Australia population is historically a diverse range of cultural and ethnic groupings.

Hence, their police took some of the following prominent initiatives:
1. Establishment of specialist multicultural and ethnic affairs units

2. Appointment of ethnic liaison officers ‘
3. Provision of multilingual information about local police services and functions
4. Establishment of sensitivity and cultural awareness training programs for serving
officers
5. Establishment of programs designed to increase the number of officers recruited
from ethnic communities
6. Development of community policing programs specifically directed at the needs
of ethnic minorities.
Ranking System
 Commissioner
 Deputy Commissioner
 Assistant Commissioner
 Chief Superintendent
 Superintendent
 Chief Inspector
 Inspector
 Senior Sergeant
 Sergeant
 Senior Constable
 Constable
CANADA
Canada is a confederate of large provinces in North America With diverse geography.

Its policing can be best summarized as a unique blend of British and American models.
It traversed the unique cultural social, and political influences of both France and
England.
The Canadian Constitution delegated to the provinces the responsibility for enforcing
the criminal law and authority to make laws in relation to the administration of justice, it
also ensured that upon entry into confederation the provinces would create provincial
police services. Thus, many provinces started to establish their own police services
such the Manitoba and Quebec in 1870, British Columbia in 1871, Ontario in 1909, New
Brunswick in 1927, Nova Scotia in 1928, Prince Edward Island in 1930, and
Newfoundland in 1935. The provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan broke from this
trend by contracting with the federal government to police the region using the Royal
North West Mounted Police (RNWMP). After the end of the service contract, Alberta
and Saskatchewan withdraw from the agreement and created its own police forces.
Subsequently, some of the provinces, disbanded their police forces which were filled up
by the Royal Canadian Police which was established pursuant to the authority granted
by the Canadian Parliament. Nonetheless some provinces retained their own provincial
and municipal police services.
Organization
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is headed by a Commissioner who is

under the direction of the Minister of Public Safety of Canada, and one of the branches
of the Federal Solicitor General. In 1996, the RCMP moved toward a more regional
management system under the direction of a deputy commissioner. At present it has a
ratio of 1 police officer per 550 inhabitants, deployed in the four (4) regions, viz: Pacific,
Northwestern, Central and Atlantic.
It also operates number of specialized directorates serving the needs of police services
nationally, such as:
1. “L” Directorate, which operates crime detection labs across the country offering
identification services such as DNA analysis, fingerprinting, criminal history files, and so
forth
2. “V” Directorate, which operates the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC), the
computerized information system that provides police services with instant criminal
records: vehicle information, stolen property data, missing person information, and so
forth.
3. “P” Directorates, which serves as the international liaison With Interpol and Foreign
services
While the RCMP have national jurisdiction, they do not enforce provincial and municipal
statutes in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec .
Entrance age is 19 and retirement is 50; male applicant must be 5’6” in height and
weigh 56 kilograms, female applicant must be 54” and weigh 55 kilograms. Educational
qualification is Canadian Secondary School Diploma, proficiency in English or French
valid unrestricted driver’s license, and a willingness to carry and use firearms or any
other necessary force.
Recruits’ training is centralized for a period of six (6) months. There. are also, field, in-
service and advance trainings to enable the recruits to apply the skills and
competencies they learned, to ensure that their skills are maintained and to develop
specialized skills and knowledge designed to achieve a high level of expertise in a given
area of policing.
RCMP’s mission is to preserve the peace, uphold the law and provide quality service in
partnership with their communities.
Ranking System of RCMP

Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner
Assistant Commissioner
Chief Superintendent
Superintendent
Inspector
Corps Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
Staff Sergeant Major
Staff Sergeant
Sergeant
Corporal
Constable 1st Class
Constable 2nd Class
Constable 3rd Class
Constable 4th Class
Cadet
Ranking System of Provincial Police
 Chief of Police / Chief of Constable

 Deputy Chief of Police/Deputy Chief Constable
 Staff Superintendent
 Superintendent
 Staff Inspector
 Inspector
 Sergeant Major
 Staff Sergeant
 Sergeant / Detective
 Constable 1st Class/ Detective Constable
 Constable 2nd Class
 Constable 3rd Class
 Constable 4th Class
 Cadet

Australian and Canadian Police Models

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How is policing structured at both the national and local levels in Australia and Canada?

What are the educational and physical requirements to become a police officer in Australia and Canada?

AUSTRALIAN and CANADIAN POLICE MODELS

Australia is an island country of approximately 25 million people located in the southern

Police Discretion and Complaints

Best Known Practice.

Australia population is historically a diverse range of cultural and ethnic groupings.

1. Establishment of specialist multicultural and ethnic affairs units

Canada is a confederate of large provinces in North America With diverse geography.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is headed by a Commissioner who is

Ranking System of RCMP

Ranking System of Provincial Police

 Chief of Police / Chief of Constable

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