Explosives

Policy No:
02/00-57
Effective Date:

Legislative/Regulatory Requirements

Section 21 of the Adequacy Standards Regulation requires a police service to provide, within a reasonable response time, the services of police explosive forced entry technicians and explosive disposal technicians.

Section 21(2) of the regulation allows a police service to deliver the services of police explosive forced entry technicians or explosive disposal technicians by contracting with another police service or entering into arrangements to provide these services on a combined, regional or cooperative basis.

Furthermore, section 21(4) allows a police service to enter into an agreement with the Canadian Armed Forces or another organization to provide explosive disposal technicians.  In situations where the police service enters into an agreement with another organization to provide explosive disposal services, the explosive disposal technician must work under the direction of a member of the police service.

Section 29 of the regulation requires a police services board to have a policy on the services of police explosive forced entry technicians and explosive disposal technicians. In addition, section 25 requires the Chief of Police to establish procedures on the services of police explosive forced entry technicians and explosive disposal technicians which:

  • set out the circumstances in which police explosive forced entry technicians and explosive disposal technicians will be deployed; 

  • require that, if the police service has its owns police explosive forced entry technicians and explosive disposal technicians, the police service’s procedures on these services are contained in a manual that is available to all members providing these services; and

  • ensure that a person who is a police explosive forced entry technician or explosive disposal technician has the knowledge, skills and abilities to provide the specific service.

Note: It is the Ministry’s position that, except in exceptional circumstances, the safe detonation, removal and disposal of improvised explosive devices should be undertaken by members of police services.

Board Policy

It is the policy of the Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board with respect to the services of police forced entry explosive technicians and explosive disposal technicians that:

  1. the York Regional Police will provide the services of police forced entry explosive technicians and explosive disposal technicians;

  2. the services will be available 24 hours a day and within a reasonable response time;

  3. the Chief of Police will set out the circumstances when police forced entry explosives and explosive disposal services will be deployed; and

  4. the Chief of Police will:

    1. develop procedures for the initial response to occurrences involving found or suspected explosives; 

    2. develop and maintain a manual on the use of police forced entry explosives and explosives disposal services that is available to each member providing that service;

    3. develop a selection process to ensure that members who provide these services have the knowledge, skills and abilities required to deliver these services effectively and safely; 

    4. ensure the ongoing training of members providing these services; and

    5. ensure that appropriate equipment is used/available to members providing these services.