FIREARMS
FACTS - UPDATE
RCMP NOW HAVE 4,156,497
ACTIVE FILES IN THEIR
FIREARMS INTEREST POLICE (FIP) DATABASE
ARE THERE REALLY THAT MANY
“POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS” CANADIANS?
BREITKREUZ’S ORIGINAL REQUEST DATED MARCH 29, 2004
Please provide copies of the reports showing the
current status, cost and effectiveness of the Firearms Interest Police (FIP)
database. We are particularly
interested in copies of reports documenting:
(1)
Total number of records/occurrences/additions/deletions reported by each
province and territory since the inception of the FIP;
(2)
Total number of active files or current records pertaining to individuals
in the FIP database; and
(3)
Efforts that have been made to bring all records in the FIP in
compliance with the recommendations of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE RESPONSE DATED JUNE 11, 2004
Based
on the information provided, a search for records was conducted in Ottawa,
Ontario. The answer to your queries
is as follows:
1)
As per discussion with our office on or about May 5, 2004 you have
chosen to abandon this portion of your request.
2)
We have been informed that the answer to this query is 4,156,497 as of
Saturday May 1, 2004.
3)
Copies of the responsive information is enclosed.
[See e-mail below]
E-MAIL FROM CAP. PIERRE
PICHÉ, CPL., POLICY ANALYST, OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS POLICY SECTION TO BOB FORD,
MANAGER OF OPERATIONS AND PUBLIC AGENCY SUPPORT, CANADIAN FIREARMS CENTRE DATED
MAY 1, 2003
Hi
Bob, Rob,
In
response to your earlier request, hopefully, the following information will be
useful to you. On the technical side of PIRS, more specifically the Firearms
Interest Police (FIP) functionality, no significant modifications have been
performed, as the PIRS to CPIC/FIP extraction criteria is an automated interface
which functions flawlessly. However,
it does require sound data in order to be “perfect”.
Although the RCMP is committed to ensuring a high level of data quality,
there remains room for improvement on the quality of information being inputted
into PIRS [Police
Information Retrieval System].
There
has been a shift of accountability in the last few years in order to increase
the quality and accuracy of data being submitted to PIRS.
This move was initiated in 1998, previous to the Auditor General and
Privacy Commissioner’s concerns of late, regarding the FIP database.
In
the past four years, a number of measures have been implemented and are ongoing.
This include:
-
A validation
and disclosure process;
-
System level
edits to trap data quality errors that have FIP implications;
-
Promoting
awareness through user workshops and new member training;
-
Developing
expertise to ensure proper data entry into RCMP systems;
-
Data quality
reviews to monitor progress and compliance;
-
Holding
contributors accountable for data quality.
The
above initiatives have been implemented by CCAPS and are supported by RCMP
senior management. A proactive
approach has been taken and positive outcomes are being seen.
CANADIAN FIREARMS CENTRE
Special
Bulletin for Police No. 26 - Firearms Interest Police (FIP)
What
is FIP and how does it work?
http://www.cfc-ccaf.gc.ca/en/owners_users/bulletins/special/police/bulletin26.asp
REVELATIONS
IN THE PRIVACY COMMISSIONER’S REPORT
By Garry Breitkreuz, MP – September 24, 2001
http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/publications/privacycommishrelev.htm
AUDITOR
GENERAL’S REPORT – DECEMBER 2002 – CHAPTER 11
http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/domino/reports.nsf/html/20021211ce.html
Royal
Canadian Mounted Police—Canadian Firearms Program
Information
to screen applicants for firearms licences may not be accurate
In
brief
As
part of the Department of Justice's Canadian Firearms Program, the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) operates a database of about four million records
called the Firearms Interest Police. Chief Firearms Officers use this database
to help screen applicants for firearms licences. The RCMP provides about 1
million of these records. The RCMP told us that while it believes that the
database has significantly improved public safety, it remains concerned about
the reliability of the information it provides to the database. This matter came
to our attention as part of our follow-up to our study of challenges to the
criminal justice system, reported to Parliament in our April 2002 Report,
Chapter 4.
Background
11.28
The Department of Justice's Canadian Firearms Program requires that the Chief
Firearms Officers screen applicants for firearms licences in order to help
ensure public safety. The Officers use the Firearms Interest Police database to
help screen applicants.
11.29
The RCMP indicates that over 900 police agencies contribute information to the
database. It contains information on individuals who have had contact with the
police, including those that have been charged with an offence. The RCMP
provides about 1 million of the records in the database. These records are
extracted from the RCMP's Police Information Retrieval System database. The RCMP
reviewed the quality of the records it provides. The data supplied by other
police agencies were not reviewed.
Issues
11.30
In November 1998 and March 2000, the Senior Executive Committee of the RCMP was
informed that officers responsible for the RCMP's contributions to the Firearms
Interest Police database had serious concerns about the accuracy and
completeness of the information. We reviewed RCMP files and made other inquiries
to confirm the significance of these concerns.
11.31
An April 2001 RCMP review of data quality stated that persons are known to be in
the database who should not be, and thus could be denied firearms licences or
have their eligibility reviewed; and
some
persons who should be in the database are not and these individuals could be
issued licences and subsequently use firearms to commit a violent offence. The
review concluded that a tragic incident could arise as a consequence of the poor
data quality and that the RCMP therefore faces serious legal risks.
11.32
In 2002, the RCMP further indicated that the quality of the data was still
questionable.
Conclusion and recommendation
11.33
The RCMP's concerns about the data are based on the limited reviews it has
conducted. If what these RCMP reviews show is representative of the risks that
the database presents, then remedial action must be taken immediately. However,
to be effective, such action must be based on an urgent systematic
identification of the problems in the database and potential solutions.
Royal
Canadian Mounted Police's response. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is
aware of the concerns about the quality of some data in its Police Information
Retrieval System and its impact on the Canadian Firearms Program. The RCMP
considers public safety to be paramount. For this reason, the RCMP is committed
to ensuring that individuals who do not meet the legal requirements to be issued
a firearms licence are identified through proper information sharing.
The
RCMP recognizes that effective information sharing for the purposes of the
Canadian Firearms Program is critical, and that this is dependent on the
integrity of the data contained in police information systems, including those
of the RCMP. The RCMP has implemented a number of remedial measures to address
data quality issues. These include a record disclosure and verification process,
system-level error detection and reporting mechanisms, enhanced system user
awareness regarding data quality issues, development of additional data quality
reviewer expertise, progress and compliance monitoring, and an increased level
of accountability on the part of contributors to RCMP systems for their data
quality.
The
RCMP opens 2.9 million operational case records per year, from over 750
locations throughout Canada. The measures specified to address data quality in
the RCMP's Police Information Retrieval System are already proving to be
effective.
Audit
team
Assistant
Auditor General: Hugh McRoberts
Principal:
Alan Gilmore
Director:
Ted Bonder
For
information, please contact Communications at (613) 995-3708 or 1-888-761-5953
(toll-free).