Canadians’ views of RCMP policing services 2019-20
List of tables
Canadians' Views of RCMP Policing Services is a public opinion survey of adult residents of Canada, with a focus on areas policed by the RCMP. A random sample of respondents (1,317 by phone and 1,671 online) was allocated to the 14 divisions of the RCMP, with 70% of the sample drawn from areas where the RCMP is the police service of jurisdiction.
Notes
- Results in this table are the overall results (combination of online panels and telephone interviews)
- Data was collected on January 10-27, 2020
- Percentages exclude those who replied "don't know" or "no opinion"
- Results are "weighted" - they are adjusted so that age, gender, and region better match the Canadian population
Table 1: Attitudes to the RCMP
| n/a |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
| How important is the RCMP's contribution to keeping Canadians safe? |
93% |
4% |
3% |
| How satisfied are you with the RCMP's contribution to keeping Canadians safe? |
72% |
16% |
12% |
| I feel safer because of the RCMP. |
64% |
24% |
11% |
Table 2: General
| n/a |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
| The RCMP demonstrates professionalism in its work. |
75% |
15% |
10% |
| The RCMP is an organization with integrity. |
69% |
17% |
14% |
| RCMP personnel are honest. |
62% |
27% |
11% |
| RCMP personnel demonstrate compassion. |
60% |
26% |
14% |
| The RCMP is an accountable organization. |
63% |
16% |
21% |
| The RCMP treats people with respect. (RCMP personnel demonstrate respect.) |
61% |
24% |
15% |
| The RCMP places an emphasis on providing quality service to the public. |
71% |
18% |
11% |
| The RCMP provides the same quality of service to all citizens. |
50% |
19% |
32% |
| The RCMP places emphasis on providing services in the official language of my choice, English or French. |
74% |
19% |
7% |
| The RCMP is a recognized symbol of Canada. |
95% |
4% |
2% |
| I have trust and confidence in the RCMP. |
69% |
17% |
13% |
| I would encourage friends and family members to apply to the RCMP. |
56% |
25% |
19% |
Table 3: Relationship with the RCMP
| n/a |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
| The RCMP has effective local leaders. |
45% |
41% |
13% |
| The RCMP has effective national leaders. |
51% |
29% |
20% |
| The RCMP provides Canadians with adequate information about its work. |
44% |
23% |
33% |
| The RCMP is an open and transparent organization. |
36% |
26% |
38% |
| The RCMP is representative of the diverse Canadian communities it serves. |
56% |
21% |
22% |
| The RCMP is dealing with the things that matter to people in this community. |
58% |
25% |
17% |
| I feel a moral duty to follow police orders. |
79% |
11% |
10% |
| I generally support how the RCMP usually acts. |
72% |
17% |
11% |
| I would help the RCMP if asked. |
87% |
9% |
4% |
Table 4: Sensitivity
| n/a |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
| The RCMP is sensitive to the needs of different cultures and groups. |
52% |
25% |
23% |
| The RCMP is respectful to the cultural needs of Indigenous people. |
45% |
22% |
33% |
| The RCMP treats women fairly. |
47% |
23% |
31% |
| The RCMP is sensitive to the needs of LGBTQ2S community. |
43% |
35% |
22% |
Table 5: Visibility and responsiveness
| n/a |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
| RCMP personnel have a visible presence in my community/province/territory. |
49% |
15% |
35% |
| The RCMP is present on the Web and social media, such as Twitter and Facebook. |
48% |
32% |
19% |
| The RCMP is effective at responding quickly to calls for assistance. (The RCMP provides an efficient and effective coordinated response to calls for service.) |
58% |
26% |
15% |
| The RCMP is contributing to traffic safety in my province or territory. |
55% |
18% |
27% |
| The RCMP makes decisions based on facts. |
61% |
26% |
13% |
| The RCMP is a forward-looking, innovative organization. |
46% |
31% |
24% |
Table 6: Priorities of the RCMP
| n/a |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
| The RCMP is effectively responding by countering radicalization to violence. |
62% |
22% |
16% |
| The RCMP is effectively responding to threats to Canadian passenger aircraft. |
69% |
23% |
8% |
| The RCMP is contributing to safer Indigenous communities. |
47% |
24% |
29% |
| The RCMP is advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples of Canada. |
43% |
29% |
28% |
| The RCMP is contributing to more informed and resilient Canadians. |
50% |
31% |
19% |
| The RCMP is reducing the overall impact of economic crime. (The RCMP is reducing the impact of economic crime, such as money laundering and stock market (capital market) fraud.) |
55% |
23% |
22% |
| The RCMP is effectively responding to cybercrime threats. |
60% |
22% |
18% |
| The RCMP is effectively addressing online scams. |
49% |
22% |
29% |
| The RCMP is reducing the sale and distribution of illegal drugs. |
61% |
18% |
21% |
| The RCMP is effectively responding to threats at the border between the ports of entry. |
65% |
19% |
16% |
| The RCMP is keeping up with current and emerging trends and threats. |
63% |
22% |
15% |
| I am aware that the RCMP participates in a variety of international activities, such as peacekeeping missions and offering training to foreign police. |
73% |
12% |
15% |
| About how often would you say that the RCMP in your neighbourhood exceeds their authority? |
13% |
17% |
70% |
Contact with the RCMP
Table 7: In the past year, did you have any direct contact with the RCMP, such as reporting a crime, being stopped for a traffic offence or accident, seeking information or any other reason?
| n/a |
Percentages |
| Yes |
18% |
| No |
82% |
Table 8: What was the reason for your most recent contact with the RCMP?
| n/a |
Percentages |
| For a criminal matter |
16% |
| For a traffic offence or an accident |
22% |
| For a complaint |
11% |
| For a natural disaster, e.g. flood, wildfire |
2% |
| For a crime prevention activity, project, or program |
10% |
| For another reason |
39% |
Table 9: Still thinking of the most recent contact, did you initiate the contact with the RCMP yourself?
| n/a |
Percentages |
| Yes |
57% |
| No |
43% |
Notes
- Questions were answered on a 5-point scale and summarized to agree/neutral/disagree to facilitate review
Table 10: Views on contact with the RCMP
| n/a |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
| It was easy to get in touch with the RCMP. |
82% |
3% |
14% |
| RCMP personnel treated me fairly. |
82% |
7% |
11% |
| RCMP personnel demonstrated professionalism. |
81% |
7% |
11% |
| RCMP personnel were courteous and respectful. |
82% |
8% |
10% |
| RCMP personnel were knowledgeable and competent. |
78% |
11% |
11% |
| RCMP personnel delivered the service in a timely fashion. |
73% |
9% |
18% |
| RCMP personnel went beyond minimum requirements in providing good service. |
56% |
20% |
24% |
| RCMP personnel gave me all the information that I needed for the situation. |
72% |
10% |
18% |
| Satisfied with the service you received during your contact(s) with the RCMP. |
70% |
11% |
19% |
