RCMP’s First Entry into Canada’s Open Government Portal: Fraud Reporting Datasets from Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has taken a step towards increased transparency and openness by contributing to the Open Government Portal with quarterly fraud reporting datasets from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC). This marks the RCMP’s first entry into the Portal.
Significant Addition to the Open Government Portal
The CAFC’s fraud reporting datasets are a significant addition to the Portal. This contribution is in line with the RCMP’s commitment to creating a more open, trusted, efficient, and responsive organization. Some benefits of this commitment are:
- Encourages open dialogue
- Enhances trust and accountability
- Improves community policing services
Valuable Information for Canadians
The datasets include vital information such as:
- Number and location of reported fraud incidents
- Types of fraud
- Amount of money lost
- Demographic information of victims
Access to this data is crucial for Canadians to better understand the prevalence and trends of fraud in their communities.
Record-Breaking Fraud Losses
In 2021 and 2022, the CAFC experienced record-breaking fraud losses, totaling $380 million and $531 million, respectively. These datasets provide a critical resource for law enforcement and the public.
Excitement from the RCMP
Jeff Ball, Acting Director General of Analytics, Data and Information Management at the RCMP, expressed his excitement about this initiative. He stated that:
“The RCMP’s Transparency and Trust Strategy demonstrates a commitment to build a foundation and lead by example when it comes to transparency in policing. Enhancing access to data and information can lead to innovation, de-victimization, accountability, and improved services, research, and engagement.”
Importance of Public Access to Data
Chris Lynam, Director General of CAFC and the National Cybercrime Coordination Centre (NC3), emphasized the importance of public access to this data. He urged Canadians to:
“access the Open Government Portal, inform themselves on what the data is showing, and use the information to help us build a safer and stronger country.”
Key Facts About CAFC
The CAFC is a national police service dedicated to collecting crime intelligence on fraud across Canada and assisting police jurisdictions with enforcement and prevention efforts. It is estimated that only 5-10% of fraud cases are reported. CAFC is currently working with the NC3 to develop a new National Cybercrime and Fraud Reporting System, aimed at being more user-friendly and capturing more comprehensive data about reported cybercrimes and fraud.
This move by the RCMP represents an important step towards increased transparency, trust, and openness in policing. Additionally, this addition to the Open Government Portal highlights the value of making reliable and accessible data available to the public, fostering innovation and aiding Canadians in combating fraud and cybercrime.