The province is investing $2.6 million dollars over the next three years in the First Nations Policing Program.
In all, Manitoba’s total investment in First Nations policing will increase to more than $15 million annually by 2022-23 and will support the addition of four new police officers.
Public Safety Canada provides funding to support policing services to First Nation and Inuit communities through the FNPP. These services are supported through agreements with provincial or territorial governments and First Nation or Inuit communities. Federal and provincial/territorial governments each contribute funding.
Manitoba is responsible for 48-percent of the costs of the program, which supports policing services in First Nation communities, such as the Manitoba First Nations Police Service, First Nation Safety Officers and First Nations Community Police Services.
The province is also providing more than $44,000 through the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund for the Manitoba First Nations Police Service, which will be used to purchase three in-car camera systems and upgrading duty pistols with lighting attachments and holsters.
In Manitoba, cash and proceeds from the sale of forfeited property are deposited into the Criminal Property Forfeiture (CPF) Fund, which is used to:
o compensate victims of the unlawful activity that led to the forfeiture of the property;
o provide funding to the Victims’ Assistance Fund;
o promote safer communities by investing in specialized equipment/training for law enforcement agencies; and
o promote safer communities by providing funding to law enforcement agencies for community initiatives.
The province also maintains the Federal Proceeds of Crime (FPOC) fund, which is generated from forfeited proceeds of crime through the prosecution of federal offences in Manitoba. The monies received from Canada are then reallocated to activities related to crime prevention including victim services, law enforcement and community initiatives such as drug prevention education.
Since 2011, more than $16 million has been distributed to law enforcement agencies and community initiatives through the CPF fund, which includes the FPOC fund and Victims’ Assistance funds.
