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REVIEW OF REGIONALIZED POLICING IN ONTARIO (CANADA)

NCJ Number
67840
Author(s)
S C FAIRWEATHER
Date Published
1978
Length
79 pages
Annotation
A COLLECTIVE COMPARISON OF EIGHT REGIONAL AND EIGHT MUNICIPAL POLICE FORCES IN ONTARIO, CANADA, SUPPORTS THE CONTENTION THAT REGIONAL POLICING IS THE MOST ECONOMICALLY AND OPERATIONALLY VIABLE FORM OF POLICING.
Abstract
REGIONAL POLICING IS ALSO BEST SUITED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE. THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO HAS 10 REGIONAL POLICE FORCES SERVING MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION. THE REMAINING POPULATION IS SERVED BY 118 MUNICIPAL (LARGE CITY) FORCES. ARGUMENTS AGAINST REGIONAL POLICE FORCES FOCUS ON THREE POINTS: HIGHER COSTS, NO GENUINE NEED FOR SUCH FORCES, AND AN INCREASINGLY IMPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY. STATISTICS REFUTING THESE ARGUMENTS ARE PRESENTED COVERING FOUR AREAS OF POLICE WORK: (1) COMPARISONS OF POLICE COSTS, (2) COMPARISONS OF POLICE COVERAGE, (3) COMPARISONS OF CRIME AND CLEARANCE RATES, AND (4) COMPARISONS OF POLICE ORGANIZATION AND SERVICES. THE STATISTICS INDICATE THAT OVERALL POLICE COSTS ARE 16.7 PERCENT LESS PER CAPITA IN REGIONAL FORCES THAN IN MUNICIPAL FORCES. REGIONAL FORCES AND MUNICIPAL POLICE FORCES SHOW FEW DIFFERENCES IN COVERAGE AND CLEARANCE RATES, BUT BOTH DIFFER GREATLY WHEN COMPARED WITH SMALL CITY POLICE FORCES. REGIONAL FORCES ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE A WEALTH OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS TO PREVENT CRIME. A SCHEMATIC FOR THE TRANSITION TO REGIONAL POLICING DEPICTS THE PLANNING PROCESS AND THE ALLOCATION OF TASKS AND RELATED ACCOUNTABILITY. THE STATUTORY BASE FOR REGIONAL POLICING IS REVIEWED; GUIDELINES FOR ORGANIZATION METHODOLOGY INCLUDE ORGANIZATIONAL DEFINITION AND PRINCIPLES, FIELD OPERATION FUNCTIONS, AND ADMINISTRATION AND SERVICES FUNCTIONS. THE HAMILTON-WENTWORTH REGIONAL FORCE IS USED AS AN EXAMPLE OF REGIONAL POLICING. GRAPHS, TABLES, AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS ARE INCLUDED.