Role of CAPB

The Canadian Association of Police Boards (CAPB) works collaboratively and proactively to improve police governance in Canada and to bring about change that will enhance public safety for all Canadians. (Mission Statement adopted August 2005.)

Public scrutiny of policing has placed increased demands on municipal police services, and consequently on their boards/commissions, resulting in a need for constant information exchange and education for members of police governing bodies. In recognition of this need, the Canadian Association of Police Boards was formed in 1989 with the following objectives:

• To establish a national body to express the views and positions of municipal police governing authorities. 
  
  
• To provide a means for the collection and sharing of information and the discussion of matters relating to policing services, in an effort to render such services more efficient and cost effective, and more responsive to the community. 
  
  
• To provide a resource centre for information relating to the governance of policing services, and create a formal network for the dissemination of such information. 
  
  
• To consider matters of national interest which affect policing services and to formulate responses at the policy-making level, from the perspective of civilian governors, for dissemination to government and the public. 
  
  
• To comment on social, economic, cultural and legislative questions, particularly of national concern, which may affect the quality, efficiency and costs of policing. 
  
  
• To promote the quality and uniformity of policing services and to encourage greater co-operation amongst policing services at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. 
  
  
• To educate the public on matters relating to the governance of policing services. 
  
  
• To act as a liaison between federal, provincial and municipal governmental authorities and the federal and provincial Solicitors General. 
  
  
• To provide a forum for participation by all civilian governors of municipal policing services and other agencies to promote and encourage greater co-operation, to serve the public interest, to advance criminal justice, and to promote common policies.