Raison d'être, mandate and role, and operating context
Who we are and what we do
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List of acronyms and abbreviations
- RCMP
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Raison d'être
As Canada's national police service, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is a critical element of the Government of Canada's commitment to providing for the safety and security of the public. By tackling crime at the municipal, provincial/territorial, federal, and international levels, the RCMP provides integrated approaches to safety and security and a federal role and presence from coast to coast to coast.
Mandate and role
The RCMP's mandate, as outlined in section 18 of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act, is multi-faceted.
It includes:
- preventing and investigating crime
- maintaining peace and order
- enforcing laws
- contributing to national security
- ensuring the safety of state officials, visiting dignitaries and foreign missions
- providing vital operational support services to other police and law enforcement agencies within Canada and abroad
Operating context
The RCMP has identified three priority areas for action that will support our continued modernization efforts and ensure we meet the needs of those we serve:
- Recruiting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce
- Ensuring a healthy and inclusive culture
- Supporting excellence in operations
The recruitment and retention of employees with the appropriate skills and attributes will help to ensure the RCMP reflects the communities it serves and has the diverse, skilled workforce to address the increasingly transnational and technological nature of crime.
Integrating our renewed core values and supporting behaviours such as acting with integrity, showing respect, demonstrating compassion, taking responsibility, and serving with excellence will help the RCMP to both better support its employees and to carry out services in ways that build public trust and confidence.
Ensuring our people have the necessary skills, training and tools to detect and disrupt threats will enable the RCMP to support and advance public safety in its areas of jurisdiction, covering 75% of Canada’s geography, including 150 municipalities, more than 600 Indigenous communities, and many small and isolated locations. The RCMP also offers renowned expertise at the international level by providing specialized training for police officers and conducting international policing activities including peacekeeping.
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