Environment Scanning 2009
Police Sector Council

In 2008 the Police Sector Council initiated a project to assess whether a "national" scan of the key drivers in the policing environment is useful and viable as a tool for managers, and if it is feasible to collaborate effectively on a scan at the national level.

• the results indicate that most of the very large police services are actively scanning, and the smaller services use the scanning; but there is little support for creating a single national scan through a common data capture template/process
• a dedicated steering committee worked through our first attempt at a national scan.  As many services have solid scanning practices in place, and are willing to share; and it would be more beneficial to focus on a sector-wide assessment of the implications of these change drivers, rather than building an annual national scan 
• with that direction, a national scan and "implications" process was initiated where feedback is being gathered on implications of the scan for the sector, results will be posted once completed  

Policing Environment 2005
Police Sector Council

In September 2005 through January 2006, the Police Sector Council conducted an environmental scan - to update the findings of the 2000 study of the HR strategies and practices within policing. The 2005 scan provides a detailed overview of today's policing environment in four key areas:

     1. 2000 sector study - an up-date of the five priority areas and 25 recommendations - the basis
          for influencing the federal government's Sector Council Program to establish its first “public
          sector” sector council for policing.

     2. Operational/policy environments update - through the consultants' literature review and
          interviews with key sector individuals on three key dimensions - social/economic, threats,
          and governance/accountability.

     3. A demographic update - based on the results of a survey sent to 184 police services asking
         for information on their employees. This information has been analysed and presented in
         graphic form, including some initial modeling to determine future trends and issues.

     4. HR practices and information technology - an assessment of the present situation through
         an analysis of the results of two surveys completed by a statistically representative portion of
         the police sector.

Exec Summary
Full Report

Strategic Human Resources Analysis of Public Policing in Canada
Police Sector Council, 2000

The Strategic Human Resources Analysis of Public Policing in Canada is the product of consultations with more than 700 individuals from every constituent group within the Canadian police sector. This 2000 study was funded through a cost shared contribution agreement between the police sector and Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC).

The study was led by a Steering Committee made up of leaders representing police services, training institutions, police boards, municipalities, police associations, unions and government departments. The Committee generated a total of 26 recommendations under 5 main priorities:

• attracting the next generation of talent for policing organizations;
• increasing sector-wide efficiencies;
• improving the sector's human resource planning capacity;
• improving labour-management relations; and
• increasing funding and resources.

One of its key recommendations was the formation of a Police Sector Council which held its first Board of Directors meeting on June 30th, 2005.
Executive Summary
Full Report

To view all of our collected articles on Environmental Scanning and Labour Market Analysis as they relate to the policing sector, click the link below.
Research Centre