Adequacy Standards
Public Order Unit

Policy No: 02/00-50
Effective Date: July 26, 2000

Legislative/Regulatory Requirements

Section 18(1) of the Adequacy Standards Regulation requires a police service to have a public order unit.

Section 18(2) allows a police services board to enter into agreements/arrangements that would result in the services of a public order unit being available from another police service, or the services of a public order unit being delivered on a combined, regional or cooperative basis.

Section 18(3) requires every public order unit to consist of a unit supervisor, and, at least, four squads of seven officers, including the squad leader, and must be able to be deployed within a reasonable time.

Section 29 of the regulation requires a police services board to have a policy on public order unit services.  In addition, section 19 requires the Chief of Police to establish procedures on public order unit services, which:

  • set out the circumstances in which a public order unit, or a squad within a unit, may be deployed; 

  • require that, if the police service maintains its own public order unit, the police service’s procedures on public unit services are contained in a manual that is available to all members of the unit; and

  • ensure that a person who is a member of a public order unit has the knowledge, skills and abilities to provide that service.

Board Policy

It is the policy of the Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board with respect to public order maintenance that:

  1. the police service will provide access to the services of a public order unit within a reasonable response time by using its own members;

  2. the public order unit will consist of a unit supervisor and, at least, four squads of seven officers, including the squad leader;

  3. the Chief of Police will establish procedures that:

    1. set out the circumstances in which a public order unit may be deployed;

    2. set out the steps for obtaining the services of a public order unit;

    3. address the circumstances and processes for liaising with appropriate officials for the purposes of Sections 63 - 68 of the Criminal Code, regarding unlawful assemblies and riot situations; and 

  4. the Chief of Police will: 

    1. ensure that a manual on the procedures of the unit is made available to all members of the unit;

    2. ensure that appropriate equipment, in accordance with the Ministry’s designated equipment and facilities list, is used/available to members of the public order unit;  

    3. develop a selection process for members of the public order unit to ensure that the members have the knowledge, skills and abilities to provide the services of the public order unit; and

    4. address the ongoing training of members of the public order unit.

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