FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 13, 2024

The volume of protests and demonstrations in Canada is creating an unsustainable demand on police services across the country

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA – The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police’s (CACP) concludes its 119th Annual Summit in Halifax, Nova Scotia today. The professional program focused on ‘the impact of global events on local policing’. One key conclusion of the Summit is that national issues and global conflicts have led to an increase in the frequency, duration, complexities, risks and threats of protests and demonstrations in communities across Canada, creating an unsustainable demand on police services and operations.

Police leaders expressed concerns about having to pull dedicated police teams away from their regular duties to reassign them to help manage public assemblies or having to hire extra staff or pay overtime to meet the increased demand for service.

Police chiefs also noted that protests are increasingly escalating from peaceful demonstrations to more high-risk situations, posing an increased threat to officer and public safety.

It’s disheartening for the police when negative public-police interactions taking place elsewhere in Canada or around the world so negatively, and often unfairly, affect the perception of, reaction to, and respect for police officers in their community. The increased number of police-public interactions that involve verbal and physical assaults, swarmings, and other threatening or deadly acts directed at officers is not only problematic but unacceptable.

As the public takes to the streets, many are also taking to social and traditional media, and to the use of artificial intelligence and other new technologies to express their discontent and demands. Protesters are increasingly going online to target or dox police officers with malicious intent, negatively impacting the reputation of the officer, the police service as well as the police profession.

“During the Summit, delegates attended sessions on strategic intelligence, public order management, crisis management, artificial intelligence, as well as the importance of officer safety in public safety,” stated Chief Don MacLean of the Halifax Regional Police. “There is a diversity of needs, expectations and concerns related to policing. Those expectations are high, and it means that we have to engage and adapt our thinking and our practices.”

On July 23, members of the CACP adopted resolution 2024-03 to address the impact on policing of an increase in the volume and harmful content of protests. Canada’s police leaders are calling on all levels of government – federal, provincial and municipal – to acknowledge and address the unsustainable demand on police services.

“To meet the increased demand for service created by increased protests and demonstrations, while ensuring officer and public safety, will require the moral and financial support of all levels of government to acquire the necessary human resources, equipment and training and to enact required legislation to make it illegal to dox the police,” stated Commissioner Thomas Carrique, President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.

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For further information or to arrange a media interview, please contact:

Natalie Wright

Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police | Communications Manager | communications@cacp.ca | 613.838.8807