Canadians’ views of RCMP policing services 2021-22
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Canadians' views of RCMP policing services is a public opinion survey of adult residents of Canada. A representative sample of the residents of Canada was selected to participate in the survey. This year, there were 2,976 respondents (1,316 by telephone interview and 1,660 online).
Notes
- Results in these tables are the overall results (combination of online panels and telephone interviews).
- Data was collected from February 14, 2022 to March 1, 2022.
- Questions were answered on a 5-point scale and summarized to agree/neutral/disagree to facilitate review.
- Percentages may sometimes not add to 100 due to rounding.
- Results are "weighted" - they are adjusted so that age, gender, and region better match the Canadian population.
- National margin of error of +/- 1.8%, 19 times out of 20.
Table 1: Attitude towards the RCMP
| n/a |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
| How important is the RCMP's contribution to keeping Canadians safe? |
85% |
5% |
10% |
| How satisfied are you with the RCMP's contribution to keeping Canadians safe? |
57% |
15% |
28% |
| I feel safer because of the RCMP. |
52% |
24% |
24% |
Table 2: General
| n/a |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
| RCMP personnel demonstrate professionalism. |
61% |
20% |
20% |
| The RCMP is an organization with integrity. |
52% |
17% |
31% |
| RCMP personnel are honest. |
51% |
26% |
23% |
| RCMP personnel demonstrate compassion. |
47% |
27% |
26% |
| The RCMP is an accountable organization. |
47% |
15% |
38% |
| RCMP personnel treat people with respect. |
49% |
22% |
29% |
| The RCMP places an emphasis on providing quality service to the public. |
56% |
20% |
23% |
| The RCMP provides the same quality of service to all citizens. |
37% |
17% |
46% |
| The RCMP places emphasis on providing services in the official language of my choice, English or French. |
67% |
26% |
7% |
| I have trust and confidence in the RCMP. |
53% |
18% |
29% |
| I would encourage friends and family members to apply to the RCMP. |
45% |
21% |
34% |
Table 3: Relationship with the RCMP
| n/a |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
| The RCMP has effective local leaders (e.g., regional, municipal). |
41% |
32% |
27% |
| The RCMP has effective national leaders. |
35% |
28% |
37% |
| The RCMP provides Canadians with adequate information about its work. |
34% |
24% |
42% |
| The RCMP is an open and transparent organization. |
25% |
24% |
50% |
| The RCMP is an organization that is welcoming and inclusive of people from different backgrounds. |
47% |
22% |
31% |
| RCMP personnel reflect the cultural diversity in my community. |
41% |
31% |
28% |
| The RCMP is dealing with the things that matter to people in this community. |
43% |
27% |
29% |
| I feel a moral duty to follow police orders. |
70% |
13% |
17% |
| I generally support how the RCMP usually acts. |
61% |
17% |
22% |
| I would help the RCMP if asked. |
74% |
14% |
12% |
Table 4: Sensitivity
| n/a |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
| The RCMP is sensitive to the needs of different cultures and groups. |
39% |
24% |
38% |
| The RCMP treats Indigenous peoples fairly. |
30% |
31% |
49% |
| The RCMP treats members of visible minority groups fairly. |
35% |
25% |
40% |
| The RCMP treats women fairly. |
41% |
23% |
36% |
| The RCMP treats members of 2LGBTQ2S communities fairly. |
37% |
32% |
31% |
| The RCMP treats people with a disability fairly. |
47% |
28% |
25% |
Table 5: Service and responsiveness
| n/a |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
| RCMP personnel have a visible presence in my community/province/territory. |
45% |
15% |
40% |
| The RCMP is effective at responding quickly to calls for assistance. |
46% |
32% |
22% |
| The RCMP is contributing to traffic safety in my province or territory. |
45% |
21% |
33% |
| The RCMP makes decisions based on facts. |
48% |
28% |
25% |
| The RCMP is a forward-looking, innovative organization. |
34% |
27% |
39% |
Note
Percentages exclude those who replied "don't know" or "no opinion".
Table 6: Priorities of the RCMP
| n/a |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
| The RCMP is addressing youth involvement in crime as offenders. |
43% |
38% |
19% |
| The RCMP is addressing youth involvement in crime as victims. |
40% |
40% |
20% |
| The RCMP is reducing the threat and impact of organized crime. |
56% |
20% |
20% |
| The RCMP is reducing the threat and impact of serious crime, such as murder, sexual assault, robbery and arson. |
53% |
22% |
24% |
| The RCMP is effective at resolving crimes where violence is involved. |
56% |
24% |
21% |
| The RCMP is effectively responding to threats to national security. |
56% |
19% |
24% |
| The RCMP is effectively responding to radicalization of individuals to violent extremism. |
44% |
24% |
32% |
| The RCMP is effectively responding to threats to Canadian passenger aircraft. |
59% |
31% |
10% |
| The RCMP is contributing to safer Indigenous communities. |
36% |
23% |
42% |
| The RCMP is advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples of Canada. |
33% |
25% |
42% |
| The RCMP is contributing to more informed and resilient Canadians. |
39% |
28% |
34% |
| The RCMP is reducing the overall impact of economic crime. |
43% |
25% |
31% |
| The RCMP is effectively responding to cybercrime threats. |
47% |
24% |
28% |
| The RCMP is effectively addressing online fraud and scams. |
41% |
22% |
36% |
| The RCMP is reducing the production, sale, and distribution of illegal drugs. |
52% |
22% |
26% |
| The RCMP is effectively responding to threats at the border between the ports of entry. |
54% |
21% |
25% |
| The RCMP is effectively participating in a variety of international activities, such as peacekeeping missions and offering training to foreign police. |
56% |
28% |
16% |
| The RCMP rapidly adapts to new and emerging priorities. |
41% |
26% |
32% |
| Canada's firearms program contributes to public safety in Canada. |
56% |
17% |
28% |
| About how often would you say that the RCMP in your neighbourhood exceeds their authority? |
17% |
19% |
64% |
Contact with the RCMP
Table 8: 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 |
26% |
| No |
73% |
| Don't know |
1% |
Table 9: What was the reason for your most recent contact with the RCMP?
| n/a |
Percentages |
| For a traffic violation or an accident |
23% |
| Victim of a crime |
15% |
| Witness to a crime |
15% |
| Fraud or scam |
6% |
| For an arrest |
2% |
| Friend or family member's mental health or substance abuse |
5% |
| Personal mental health or substance abuse |
15% |
| For a complaint, for example, public disturbance |
17% |
| For a complaint about a police officer |
1% |
| For a natural disaster, for example, floods, wildfires, mudslides, tornadoes |
2% |
| For a crime prevention activity, project, or program |
6% |
| Background check |
13% |
| Job fair |
1% |
| Musical Ride, ceremonies, parades, or other community events |
4% |
| For another reason |
29% |
| Don't know |
1% |
Table 10: Still thinking of the most recent contact, did you initiate the contact with the RCMP yourself?
| n/a |
Percentages |
| Yes |
59% |
| No |
39% |
| Don't know |
1% |
Table 11: Views on contact with the RCMP
| n/a |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
Don't know |
| It was easy to get in touch with the RCMP. |
86% |
3% |
11% |
0% |
| RCMP personnel treated me fairly. |
81% |
7% |
10% |
0% |
| RCMP personnel demonstrated professionalism. |
82% |
6% |
11% |
1% |
| RCMP personnel were courteous and respectful. |
81% |
8% |
10% |
1% |
| RCMP personnel were knowledgeable and competent. |
73% |
11% |
12% |
2% |
| RCMP personnel delivered the service in a timely fashion. |
72% |
8% |
15% |
2% |
| RCMP personnel went beyond minimum requirements in providing good service. |
51% |
19% |
25% |
2% |
| RCMP personnel gave me all the information that I needed for the situation. |
68% |
10% |
19% |
0% |
| Satisfied with the service you received during your contact(s) with the RCMP. |
69% |
11% |
19% |
1% |
