Halifax’s cop-to-pop ratio dipping lower

HALIFAX, N.S. — Halifax’s population boom means the cop-to-pop numbers are thinning out.

A report arriving at the HRM board of police commissioners meeting on Monday examines HRM’s population (per 100,000) to the number of police officers conducted annually by the Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics. This is a way to compare the level of policing with other municipalities across the country.

More officers?

The Halifax District RCMP are asking for six additional positions (reduced by one in their original request in November). The last time around, they were approved to hire 16 constables over three years. The latest request for six positions is over and above those approved last year.

Halifax Regional Police were looking for 24 new positions, which includes 18 constables, but the board approved 22 in November — sending their recommendation on to Halifax regional council.

HRP Chief Don MacLean, wrote in a report that HRM is a unique case because of the dual-policing module.

“As the integrated HRP/RCMP policing model in HRM is unique across Canada, it is respectfully submitted that the HRP cop-to-pop ratio should not be considered equally comparable with other municipal police services.”

Because of that, the only fair way to calculate it is to use the total police strength for HRM with and the total population for HRM, he added. 

With an HRM population of 480,582, the cop-to-pop ratio would be 152.5 for 2023.

That’s far below several other municipalities:

• Canadian average: 181.3
• N.S.: 183.8
  • Amherst: 246.6
  • Cape Breton: 210.7
  • Truro: 272.9
  • New Glasgow: 326.6
• Toronto: 164.8
• Saint John: 190.1
• Vancouver: 187.2

If no more positions were added

MacLean said if they used this calculation with an estimated HRM population of 512,820 this year (projected by HRM staff), that cop-to-pop number would drop to 142.9, if they don’t get the positions they’re asking for.

But if both HRP and RCMP get their requested positions for the next fiscal year (569 strong for HRP and 194 for RCMP), the cop-to-pop ratio would be 148.8.

Halifax District RCMP Chief Supt. Jeffrey Christie wrote in another report that the current staffing levels “reflect staffing at the lowest RCMP level within the country,” he wrote.

“The analysis completed in support of this process reflects that to return to meet the lowest range of the pop-to-cop range by 2026/27 would require in excess of 36 new (full-time positions),” Christie wrote.

He added that resources are spread even thinner over larger land masses in rural areas.

The police board meets at 1 p.m. on Monday.