Communications And Dispatch

Legislative/Regulatory Requirements

Section 5(1)(a) of the Adequacy Standards Regulation requires a police service to have a communications centre.

Section 5(3) allows a police service to access the services of a communications centre by contracting with another municipal emergency service, contracting with another police service, or entering into arrangements to provide the services of a communications centre on a combined, regional or cooperative basis.

Section 5(6) requires a communications centre to operate 24 hours a day with one or more communications operators/dispatchers to answer emergency calls for service, and maintain constant two-way voice communication capability with police officers who are on patrol or responding to emergency calls.
 
In addition, section 6(1) of the Adequacy Standards Regulation requires a police service to ensure that: 

• 24 hours a day a member of a police service is available to supervise police communications and dispatch services; and
• police officers on patrol have a portable two-way voice communication capability that allows the police officers to be in contact with the communications centre when away from their vehicle or on foot patrol.

Furthermore, section 29 of the Adequacy Standards Regulation requires a police services board to have a policy on communications and dispatch services.  Also, section 6(3) requires the Chief of Police to:

• establish procedures on communications and dispatch services; and
• ensure that communications operators/dispatchers and those supervising them have successfully completed the required Ministry accredited training or acquired the Ministry approved equivalent competencies.

Board Policy

It is the policy of the Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board with respect to communications and dispatch services that:

1. the York Regional Police will provide the services of a communications centre; and 
2. the Chief of Police will:
   1. ensure that 24 hours a day a member of a police service is available to supervise police communications and dispatch services;
   2. ensure that police officers on patrol have a portable two-way voice communication capability that allows the police officers to be in contact with the communications centre when away from their vehicle or on foot patrol;
   3. establish procedures and processes on communications and dispatch services; 
   4. ensure that members who provide communications and dispatch services meet the requirements of the Adequacy Standards Regulation; and
   5. establish procedures that set out when more than one officer will respond to an occurrence or call for service.