P.E.I. government introduces 1st provincewide standards for how police services operate
CBC
The Prince Edward Island government is rolling out the province’s first-ever policing standards, which officials say will make police services more consistent, transparent and better supported.
Brody Connolly, the province’s director of public safety, said each policing service would have their own internal policy and some procedures that they would adhere to. He said the new standards will change that.
“This is the first time that we're going to have a clear, comprehensive framework that sets clear expectations for how policing services operate,” Connolly told CBC News.
“It allows them to do that safely, and while also offering them the support and the tools they need to do the job properly.”
He added that P.E.I. is one of the last provinces in Canada to introduce provincewide policing standards.
The push to create formal, Island-wide policing standards stems from recommendations in a report commissioned by the province that was released in 2022.
Prepared by a consulting firm, the report evaluated progress in policing and offered recommendations to strengthen and improve police services in P.E.I.
Connolly said the standards were developed through extensive consultation with police agencies, unions and municipalities. Nearly 60 stakeholders and organizations were involved in the process.
Among the new requirements, police services across P.E.I. will now need to develop annual policing plans in consultation with the communities they serve. The standards also introduce quality assurance measures to ensure police services meet Islanders’ needs, Connolly said.
“What's new is the consistency and accountability these standards create,” he said.
The framework also includes protocols in areas such as intimate partner violence and use of force, along with requirements to ensure officers are properly trained and equipped.
“There's just going to be more trauma-informed guidelines with evidence-based research to give tools to police on how to address these evolving issues,” Connolly said.
He added that officer wellness is another element in the new standards, ensuring police have the support and resources they need to be “in a good place” while doing their jobs.
Overall, the framework covers five main areas: roles and responsibilities, organizational management, personnel, operations, and specialized policing and support services.
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