Community Safety Officers in Western Canada

Abstract

Community safety officers (CSOs) have been prominent local security providers in the United Kingdom, Australia, and elsewhere for two decades. Examining the establishment of CSOs in cities in Western Canada, this article responds to calls for international, comparative research on CSOs. We demonstrate that CSO establishment in Canada has not entailed a straightforward transfer of criminal justice policy. Instead, there have been policy mutations, most notably when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police implemented a pilot CSO program in several cities. By examining CSO programs and practices in Canada, we contribute to international literature on CSOs as well as related debates about reassurance and community policing.