[ Browse by Service Category : Criminal Justice and Legal Services : Sub-Topics of Law Enforcement Agencies (19) ]
Border Patrol/Inspections
The federal agency that is responsible for enforcing and administering immigration and nationality laws by inspecting all persons seeking admission to or transiting through international borders at air, land and sea ports-of-entry; and by patrolling the borders to prevent smuggling and illegal entry of undocumented persons into the country. Border management is the responsibility of Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) which is part of Public Safety Canada (PS). In most areas across the Canada-US border, Integrated Border Enforcement Teams have been established in order to share information and conduct joint operations.
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (formerly known as PhoneBusters National Call Centre) is Canada's national anti-fraud call centre and central fraud data repository. It was established in January 1993 in North Bay, Ontario, and is jointly operated by the Ontario Provincial Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Competition Bureau. The original mandate of PhoneBusters was to prosecute key individuals in Ontario and Quebec involved in telemarketing fraud under the Criminal Code. Its mandate now includes gathering intelligence and receiving complaints on mass marketing fraud, identity theft, deceptive marketing practices and telemarketing frauds. Once received, the centre analyzes the data, disseminates victim evidence, statistics, documentation and prepares reports for other law enforcement agencies in Canada and United States to follow up. It also educates and provides awareness campaigns on fraud prevention and telemarketing pitches, particularly in March (Fraud Awareness Month) to prevent future victimization.
General Bylaw Enforcement Officers
Enforcement officers for municipal or regional governments who inform and educate the public about the requirements of local bylaws as well as the consequences of breaking them, describe the appeal process and potential outcomes, and receive, investigate and respond to complaints related to bylaw violations. In some provinces/territories, the status of bylaw enforcement officers is regulated, and depending on the jurisdiction, they may have the authority to issue tickets and notices and enter private properties. Bylaw enforcement units may be under the authority of the local police or the local government, or an external agency contracted for specific programs (e.g. SPCA for dog control); and depending on the size of the community, some bylaws can be enforced by specialized teams (e.g. animal control, garbage, parking, building, etc.) or a single bylaw enforcement officer.
Municipal Police
The local agency that is responsible for enforcing all laws and ordinances; preventing crime; investigating criminal activity; apprehending, arresting and detaining suspects; presenting evidence; regulating traffic; investigating traffic accidents and engaging in other activities that protect lives and property and preserve peace in the community.
Provincial/Territorial Police
The provincial/territorial agency that has responsibility for enforcing provincial/territorial laws, investigating crimes, providing laboratory analysis of criminal evidence, gathering and sharing criminal intelligence and providing expertise and resources to other law enforcement agencies throughout the province/territory.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The federal agency in Canada that has responsibility for law enforcement, crime prevention and investigation, gathering and sharing criminal intelligence, forensic laboratory analysis and other similar services with the objective of maintaining the peace and protecting life and property in all regions of the country. Directorates of the RCMP include Criminal Intelligence, International Liaison and Protective Operations, and Federal Services which includes Custom and Excise, Drug Enforcement, Proceeds of Crime, Economic Crime, Community Policing, Forensic Laboratory Services, and Community Contract and Aboriginal Policing Services which provides community policing services to locales (provinces, territories and First Nations communities) on a contract basis.
The above terms and definitions are part of the Taxonomy of Human Services, used here by permission of INFO LINE of Los Angeles.