Horizontal Initiatives
Name of Horizontal Initiative: Investments to Combat the Criminal Use of Firearms (ICCUF)
Name of Lead Department: Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
Lead Department PAA Program: Canadian Firearms Program (CFP)
Start Date: May 2004
End Date: Ongoing
Total Federal Funding Allocation (from start date to end date): Originally $49.9 million over five years; now $10.9 million per year, ongoing.
Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement):
The overall aim of the ICCUF is to improve the national collection, analysis and sharing of firearms-related intelligence and information. Funding is distributed within the RCMP to several sub-programs within the Canadian Law Enforcement Services program: Canadian Firearms Program (CFP), Criminal Intelligence (CI), Integrated Forensic Identification Services (IFIS) - Canadian Integrated Ballistics Information Network (CIBIN) laboratories, and the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC). The initiative also provides funds to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Public Safety Canada (PSC).
The ICCUF directly supports the Government's objective to tackle violent crime (especially firearms-related offences in relation to organized crime and street gangs).
Shared Outcomes: Enhanced RCMP and CBSA capacity to gather, analyze and share criminal intelligence in order to improve firearms investigations, and to increase knowledge of the extent and patterns of smuggling and trafficking of firearms used in crime. These contribute to Canada's intelligence-led national enforcement strategy.
Governance Structures: A Joint Management Team (JMT) coordinates ICCUF efforts. All partners participate in JMT meetings.
Performance Highlights:
Aligned with the Government of Canada's objective to tackle violent crime, particularly firearms-related offences, the ICCUF horizontal initiative continues to support the national collection, analysis, development and sharing of firearms-related intelligence with its federal partners.
This initiative also supports the fulfillment of firearms trace requests and the maintenance and distribution of the RCMP's firearms reference table to law enforcement. ICCUF also provides training to both Canadian and international law enforcement partners and enables the continued operation of the Canadian Integrated Ballistics Information Network (CIBIN).
In addition, it has allowed federal partners to provide policy advice related to crime guns to the Minister of Public Safety Canada, conduct relevant research, and continues to support illegal firearms seizures at Canadian ports of entry.
Public Safety Canada
Law Enforcement and Policing Branch
| Contributing activities/programs | Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) ($millions) | Planned Spending 2012-13 ($millions) | Actual Spending 2012-13 ($millions) | Expected Results 2012-13 | Contributing activity/program results 2012-13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICCUF | Ongoing | $0.275 | $0.272 | Provide independent policy advice to the Minister of Public Safety on firearms and crime, and support research on such areas as the relationship between crime guns, street gangs, youth and organized crime | Provided ongoing policy advice to the Minister and undertook a project on international best practices |
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Canadian Firearms Program - Firearms Investigative and Enforcement Services (CCFP/FIES)
| Contributing activities/programs | Total Allocation from Start to End Date) ($millions) | Planned Spending 2012-13 ($millions) | Actual Spending 2012-13 ($millions) | Expected Results 2012-13 | Contributing activity/program results 2012-13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICCUF | Ongoing | $7.7 Footnote 1 | $9.256 | Provide enhanced and collaborative criminal firearms intelligence, close national firearm policy and operational gaps with partners, and meet present and future intelligence challenges Reduce the impact of serious firearms-related crime through continued support to law enforcement agencies, by providing specialized assistance to effectively investigate, gather and share criminal intelligence to successfully prosecute individuals involved in the illegal movement and criminal use of firearms | The recent acquisition of a national computer server within the CFP/FIES directorate has improved the collection, reporting and analysis of firearms data. The CFP/FIES hosted the 10th annual International Firearms Trafficking School in Ottawa. This school is dedicated to sharing firearms-related investigation information with law enforcement participants from many G20 countries. In addition, CFP/ FIES have delivered requested training on firearms identification in Trinidad, and specialized training through the INTERPOL Capacity Building Programme in the Dominican Republic, increasing the number of officers qualified to investigate firearms trafficking crimes. The CFP/FIES fulfilled 2,639 tracing requests in 2012-13 and 4,900 requests for service for firearms investigations from law enforcement. In 2012-13, the CFP/FIES developed and released the Seized Firearms Safety training course, via the Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CPKN), and provided 98 training sessions to law enforcement during the year. The CFP/FIES supported the development of an INTERPOL Firearms Reference Table (IFRT) and have distributed via DVD a total of 2,400 copies of the FRT to law enforcement in Canada and Internationally. |
Criminal Intelligence Program (CI)
| Contributing activities/programs | Total Allocation from Start to End Date) ($millions) | Planned Spending 2012-13 ($millions) | Actual Spending 2012-13 ($millions) | Expected Results 2012-13 | Contributing activity/program results 2012-13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICCUF | Ongoing | $1.12 | $1.379 | Provide enhanced and collaborative criminal firearms intelligence, close national firearm policy and operational gaps with partners, and meet present and future intelligence challenges Reduce the impact of serious firearms-related crime through continued support to law enforcement agencies, by providing specialized assistance to effectively investigate, gather and share criminal intelligence to successfully prosecute individuals involved in the illegal movement and criminal use of firearms | Criminal intelligence (CI) has supported frontline policing by providing actionable intelligence. Their efforts have identified and led to the arrest of suspects involved in firearms crimes. CI also wrote and shared intelligence briefs alerting law enforcement agencies of new trends. CI continues to contribute to the National Firearms Threat Assessment written by CISC. Source development remains a priority for the unit and it has been successful in achieving this goal. |
Integrated Forensic Identification Services
| Contributing activities/programs | Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) ($millions) | Planned Spending 2012-13 ($millions) | Actual Spending 2012-13 ($millions) | Expected Results 2012-13 | Contributing activity/program results 2012-13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICCUF | Ongoing | $0.948 | $0.775 | Provide enhanced and collaborative criminal firearms intelligence, close national firearm policy and operational gaps with partners, and meet present and future intelligence challenges Reduce the impact of serious firearms-related crime through continued support to law enforcement agencies, by providing specialized assistance to effectively investigate, gather and share criminal intelligence to successfully prosecute individuals involved in the illegal movement and criminal use of firearms | The use of the Canadian Integrated Ballistics Information Network (CIBIN) by law enforcement partners and any resulting "hit" for bullets and cartridge cases is an indicator of improved investigations. A CIBIN hit provides a link discovered between two crimes and between a firearm and a crime that were previously suspected to be related. As of March 31, 2013 there have been 31,014 calls for CIBIN service across Canada; 64,295 bullets and cartridge cases have been acquired and there have been 3,248 confirmed hits linking 6,496 crimes or firearms to crimes for investigators to pursue. There are between 15 and 20 main users; over 500 different agencies have used CIBIN/IBIS. For the fiscal year period 2012-13, 7,561 bullets and cartridge cases have been acquired and there have been 386 confirmed hits linking 772 crimes or firearms to crimes. |
Canada Border Services Agency
Risk Assessment and Intelligence
| Contributing activities/programs | Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) ($millions) | Planned Spending 2012-13 ($millions) | Actual Spending 2012-13 ($millions) | Expected Results 2012-13 | Contributing activity/program results 2012-13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICCUF | Ongoing | $1.33 | $1.48 | Valuable criminal intelligence shared in support of firearms crime investigations in the provision of an ongoing network of Regional Intelligence Firearms Liaison Officer (RIFLO) support, in the sharing of information and intelligence to police and law enforcement partners concerning the smuggling and trafficking of firearms, and the provision of a border nexus for these often organized criminal activities. | Seizure of non-restricted, restricted and prohibited firearms at various ports of entry across Canada. Development of intelligence on individuals and businesses suspected of being involved in the cross-border movement of illicit firearms. Provision of intelligence support to Canadian law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the trafficking of firearms. Working with partners, both domestic and international, to strengthen working relationships and the sharing of information and intelligence within appropriate legislative frameworks, such as within the ICCUF initiative partners, and also our bi-national partners: US Department of Homeland Security and the US Customs and Border Protection. |
| Total Planned Spending for All Federal Partners 2012-13 ($millions) | Total Actual Spending for All Federal Partners 2012-13 ($millions) |
|---|---|
| $11.373 | $13.162 |
Comments on variances: N/A
Results achieved by non-federal partners: N/A
Contact information:
Supt. Sylvain Berthiaume
Director, Firearms Investigative and Enforcement Services Directorate
RCMP Canadian Firearms Program
73 Leikin Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R2
Email: Sylvain.Berthiaume@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
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