The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General, today released the results of a public survey regarding policing services in Newfoundland and Labrador. Developed by the Policing Transformation Working Group, with input from community partners, the survey was administered by Quality of Care NL from December 16, 2024, to January 22, 2025.
Approximately 4,500 people engaged in the survey from over 240 communities. Nearly 52 percent of those respondents identified as women, over 47 percent identified as men, and one percent identified as two-spirit, transgender or non-binary. Almost two-thirds of respondents were from 35 to 64 years of age.
The results of the survey are available here.
Quality of Care NL is an applied health and social systems research, and evaluation program based at Memorial University. This research and evaluation program has advanced expertise in public engagement and survey development, including management of the public engagement process for Health Accord NL.
The Police Transformation Working Group was established by the Provincial Government in 2023 and is mandated to evaluate Newfoundland and Labrador’s current policing model, conduct public engagement, and provide ongoing advice to ensure Newfoundlanders and Labradorians receive the most effective and efficient policing services possible.
The Provincial Government provides over $180 million annually for policing services in Newfoundland and Labrador. Budget 2025 includes over $50 million for new initiatives for the Department of Justice and Public Safety, including five new RCMP officers in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and 10 new RNC officers for the Northeast Avalon. Starting in 2026-27, an additional 19 police officers will be hired, this careful planning ensures that policing resources are strategically positioned to meet the evolving needs of our society. Budget 2025 also includes support for the establishment of a Joint-Task Force Unit comprised of RNC and RCMP officers to target weapon, drug, and contraband enforcement and critical incident response activities.
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“I thank members of the public for taking the time to complete the survey and acknowledge the great work done by the Policing Transformation Working Group and Quality of Care NL. The volume of responses and level of engagement indicates the importance of policing in our communities. The department has already prioritized some of the suggestions received, such as additional support for frontline police officers in Budget 2025. The Policing Transformation Working Group, along with other departmental officials, will continue to collaborate with community partners to utilize the information learned from this survey to improve our police services and enhance public safety in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General
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