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This document is archival in nature and is intended Le présent document a une valeur archivistique et for those who wish to consult archival documents fait partie des documents d’archives rendus made available from the collection of Public Safety disponibles par Sécurité publique Canada à ceux Canada. qui souhaitent consulter ces documents issus de sa collection. Some of these documents are available in only one official language. Translation, to be provided Certains de ces documents ne sont disponibles by Public Safety Canada, is available upon que dans une langue officielle. Sécurité publique request. Canada fournira une traduction sur demande. Information Guide for members of public security committees Sûreté du Québec, March 2010 2 INFORMATION GUIDE FOR MEMBERS OF PUBLIC SECURITY COMMITTEES 1 Public security committees . 7 1.1. Mission . 7 1.2 Members . 8 1.3 Operation . 8 1.4 Mandate . 8 2 Service agreements . 10 2.1 Roles and responsibilities of the PSC . 11 2.2 Roles and responsibilities of the RCM . 11 2.3 Roles and responsibilities of the Sûreté du Québec . 11 3 Management tools . 12 3.1 Police resources organization plan . 12 3.2 Regional and local business plan . 13 3.3 Periodic report on activities . 13 3.4 Annual activity report . 14 3.5 Local policing standards . 15 4 THE SÛRETÉ DU QUÉBEC: YOUR PARTNER . 16 4.1 Mission, vision and values . 16 4.2 Organizational structure . 17 4.3 Services . 18 4.4 Reporting structure . 19 4.5 Community policing approach . 19 The five cornerstones of local policing . 20 1. A familiar presence . 20 2. Consultation with the clientèle . 20 3. Quality services to citizens . 21 4. Partnership with the population . 21 5. Problem solving . 21 4.6 Prevention programs . 22 • Appendix I . 24 • Appendix II . 25 • Appendix III . 26 • Appendix IV . 27 • Appendix V . 28 • Appendix VI . 29 Note : In this paper, the vulgarization of legislative text is intended to facilitate understanding. Sections of the Police Act RSQ, chapter P-13.1, concerning service agreements and the Public Safety Committee, are appended for reference. INFORMATION GUIDE FOR MEMBERS OF PUBLIC SECURITY COMMITTEES 3 This information guide was written specifically for elected municipal officials and police officers who sit on a public security committee (PSC), with the aim of facilitating their full participation. However, it is also intended for any elected official or person who wishes to understand how a PSC operates in order to contribute to its activities, because a safe living environment for citizens is a common mission shared by several stakeholders. Some elected officials already have experience with PSCs and the management of service agreements with the Sûreté du Québec. However, experience and knowledge vary greatly from one official to the next. This guide contains general and practical information to facilitate participation. It includes a brief background, followed by four sections touching on: • Public security committees - Mission - Members - Operation - Mandate • Service agreements • Management tools - Police resources organization plan - Regional and local business plan - Annual activity report - Local policing standards • Overview of the Sûreté du Québec - Structure - Services - Operation The general information in this guide should serve as a springboard for discussions between elected municipal officials and Sûreté du Québec representatives, and should encourage involvement, cooperation and exchange among the different public security partners. INFORMATION GUIDE FOR MEMBERS OF PUBLIC SECURITY COMMITTEES 5 BACKGROUND CSP FORUM Service agreements between the ministère de la During the first PSC forum, held in May 2001, Sécurité publique and regional county municipalities participants expressed an interest in receiving more (RCMs) for the provision of police services by the Sûreté information on the operation and mandate of PSCs so du Québec were introduced in 1997 and have brought that they could better serve on the committee. The first about a new sharing of responsibilities. They provide for version of this guide was developed in response to that a participative structure, called a “public security request. committee” (PSC), in which elected municipal officials form a partnership with the Sûreté du Québec to ensure A second forum, held in April 2003, was a platform for a safe environment for the population. positive, constructive discussion among police officers, elected officials and the various municipal partners. In June 2001, the Police Act 1 was amended by the Act concerning the organization of police services ,2 which The third forum was held in November 2006 and broadened and clarified the PSCs’ mandate and participants expressed an interest in joint training for increased the number of elected municipal officials who elected municipal officials and police station chiefs to can sit on the committees. It also established service provide a common reference framework to facilitate local and regional public safety assessment. The training levels based on the size of the population served and course, entitled “ Élus et policiers : Vision commune made the Sûreté du Québec responsible for the et action concertée en sécurité et prévention de la provision of police services to municipalities with fewer criminalité ” (Elected officials and police officers: a than 50 000 inhabitants. The Sûreté du Québec’s status common vision and concerted action for safety and as the national police force was confirmed, as was its crime prevention), was jointly developed by the Union role in supporting municipal police forces. des municipalités du Québec (UMQ), the Fédération Québécoise des Municipalités (FQM) and the Sûreté du Further to these legislative amendments, the Sûreté Québec. This was the first time ever these three bodies integrated 59 municipal police forces and municipalities. had worked in partnership. For more information on the training, see the UMQ and FQM Websites. A fourth forum was held in March 2010 under the theme “Communication: the challenge for public safety partners”. All forum proceedings are available (in French only) on the Sûreté du Québec Website: http://www.sq.gouv.qc.ca/mission-et-services/ publications/publications-sq-police.js 1 R.S.Q., chapter P-13.1. 2 R.S.Q., chapter O-8.1. 6 INFORMATION GUIDE FOR MEMBERS OF PUBLIC SECURITY COMMITTEES 1. Public security committees Public security committees (PSCs) are established pursuant to section 78 of the Police Act, which determines their composition and procedures. 1.1 Mission Common goal • Involve elected municipal officials in maintaining a safe The PSC and the Sûreté du Québec thus share a living environment. common goal, which is to provide the best public safety services possible in order to ensure a safe environment • Oversee the police services provided by the Sûreté du for all citizens. Québec on the territory. The effectiveness of the PSC’s decisions and actions • Create a primary communication link between the depends on the involvement of the committee’s Sûreté du Québec and the community served. members at the regional level. Elected officials who sit on a PSC represent all citizens in the RCM or equivalent territory and are partners in public safety. In their role as representatives of citizens (who express their expectations, needs and concerns to the RCM’s elected municipal officials), they contribute to better community environments. As public safety partners, the elected officials help to define priorities and identify the means available to meet the community’s needs. INFORMATION GUIDE FOR MEMBERS OF PUBLIC SECURITY COMMITTEES 7 Appendix II contains a list of winning practices identified during the most recent forums to ensure, among other things, the smooth operation of PSCs. 1.4 Mandate As set out in section 78 of the Police Act , the functions of the public security committee are to: • oversee the implementation of the service agreement; • assess the services provided; • establish priorities for action; 1.2 Members • inform the parties of the results of its work and report to them at least once a year; A public security committee is composed of up to nine members, including: • participate in the preparation of the semi-annual action plan, according to the priorities identified, and evaluate • between four and seven elected municipal officials the plan; designated by the RCM, including a committee chair selected by the PSC’s municipal representatives; • approve the police resources organization plan; • two representatives of the Sûreté du Québec, one of • participate in the selection of the location of the police whom is the police station chief. station on the basis of public security requirements, police service effectiveness and government policy on Any change in the representation of either partner group leasing or acquiring buildings; must be communicated to the other partner group within 30 days. • develop criteria for evaluating the performance of the Sûreté du Québec within the framework of the The committee members have an unlimited term of agreement and, where the committee considers it office, with the exception of the chair, who is appointed appropriate, inform the police station chief on the for one year. However, the chair’s term may be renewed. citizens’ appreciation of the police services they receive; Where needed for the purposes of a given issue, the PSC may call on a resource person or partner to • evaluate the performance of the police station chief.