Commissioner's directive 570: Security equipment

• Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA), paragraph 3(a)
• Criminal Code of Canada
• Firearms Act
• Surplus Crown Assets Act
• Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations
• Explosives Act

To ensure public, staff and offender safety through the effective management of security equipment

Applies to all staff involved in acquisition, maintenance, handling, storage or use of security equipment

• Responsibilities
• Procedures
• Testing and Evaluation of New/Proposed Equipment
• Storage
• Firearms
• Ammunition Standards
• Disposal of Surplus Equipment
• Chemical and Inflammatory Agent Disposal
• Annex-A-Cross-References

1. The Director General, Security, will:
   1. chair the National Security Equipment Committee
   2. evaluate proposed changes to the Security Equipment Manual and refer decisions on major changes, such as firearms, munitions or chemical/inflammatory agents, or changes having major implications to the Executive Committee for review
   3. be responsible for final decisions on routine changes, such as model, brand or specification updates, to the Security Equipment Manual
   4. review all requests for firearms and approve or deny such requests
   5. ensure a national program is in place for the maintenance of firearms and the quality assurance testing of ammunition
   6. ensure all CSC firearms are recorded with the Firearms Registrar, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

2. The National Security Equipment Committee will be chaired by the Director General, Security, and be composed of the Regional Administrators, Security, representatives of the Security Branch, Technical Services, Women Offender Sector, Learning and Development, and other representatives deemed necessary. The Committee will serve as a strategic group to discuss and provide input and guidance for amendments or additions to the Security Equipment Manual.

3. The Institutional Head/Correctional Learning and Development Centre Director, with the approval of the Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Integrated Services, will:
   1. determine the types and quantities of approved equipment to be purchased in accordance with the Security Equipment Manual
   2. ensure that only security equipment approved in the Security Equipment Manual will be purchased. Equipment not listed may be purchased for evaluation purposes if authorized by the Director General, Security
   3. ensure procedures are in place so that all security equipment is in safe working order, can be accounted for at all times, and is inventoried and inspected at least on an annual basis
   4. ensure all security equipment is recorded in the Integrated Financial and Materiel Management System (IFMMS) in accordance with FD 350-1 – Asset Management
   5. ensure the standardized National Security Equipment Inventory is submitted to the Regional Administrator, Security, by April 15th every year
   6. ensure that bullet traps/proving chambers are available in the institution for the safe loading and unloading of firearms
   7. ensure the Security Maintenance Officer (and designated back up), or others assigned security maintenance tasks, receives necessary training in accordance with current standards.

4. The Deputy Warden will ensure that procedures are established in post orders where all staff will verify and inspect all post supplied security equipment when assuming a post, and report any deficiencies immediately to the Correctional Manager (Desk).

5. The Assistant Warden, Operations, will ensure that:
   1. a local process is in place for the maintenance and repair of firearms according to the National Firearms Maintenance Program
   2. verifications and inspections of post equipment are recorded on locally developed post equipment checklists each time control of the post or equipment changes hands and are delivered to the Duty Correctional Manager on a daily basis
   3. procedures are in place for the completion of the standardized National Security Inventory, documenting all security equipment in storage or issued
   4. a process is in place for the completion of the Firearms Maintenance Record (CSC/SCC 0768-01) including a full description of each firearm and its location
   5. procedures are established to ensure that appropriate access restrictions and tracking methods are in place for the institutional armoury
   6. appropriate signage and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are maintained in locations where dangerous goods are stored, with copies maintained and organized by location in the Correctional Manager (Desk) office.

6. The Correctional Manager (Desk) will:
   1. review all equipment checklists as submitted, and initiate a process to resolve any identified issues or deficiencies without delay
   2. relay pertinent information regarding noted deficiencies to the person in charge of that equipment or Security Maintenance Officer for action as required.

7. All requests for equipment not listed in the Security Equipment Manual will be forwarded by the Institutional Head to the Regional Administrator, Security. Submissions supported by the Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Correctional Operations, will be forwarded with their recommendations to the Director General, Security, for consideration for testing.
8. When supported, submissions will be reviewed by the National Security Equipment Committee.
9. Each region, as well as the National Training Academy, will assist in the evaluation of new security equipment, when requested, following guidelines and methodology provided by the Director General, Security.

10. All firearms, ammunition, chemical and inflammatory agents and related security equipment must be securely stored in the armoury or another area designated as a sub-armoury when not deployed.
11. Firearms must be stored unloaded in an armoury or sub-armoury.
12. For operational purposes, a limited amount of chemical and inflammatory agents may be stored in security safes located throughout the institution. The amount and location will be determined by the Institutional Head.

13. Each maximum, multi-level, medium security and clustered institution will only maintain the types of firearms as cited on the Security Equipment Manual. Firearms are not deployed in women offender institutions, minimum security institutions, or minimum units at clustered sites.
14. Staff removing a firearm from an armoury or sub-armoury for any purpose must complete Firearms Issue and Control Register (CSC/SCC 0767).
15. All staff must immediately report any loss or theft of any CSC firearm or component of firearm. Reporting must be made to the police authority with jurisdiction by the Duty Correctional Manager. The loss is also to be reported immediately in accordance with CD 568-1 – Recording and Reporting of Security Incidents. As well, the Director, Contracting and Materiel Services, must be notified of the loss to remove the asset record

16. Only ammunition that has been tested by the RCMP or by a laboratory authorized by the RCMP to conduct ammunition testing will be used, unless authorized by the Director General, Security, for evaluation or small quantities (less than 50,000 rounds).
17. All ammunition malfunctions will be immediately reported to the Duty Correctional Manager and Regional Administrator, Security, who will forward this information to the Director General, Security Branch, without delay.

18. All security equipment considered obsolete and/or unserviceable, except firearms, must be disposed of in accordance with regulations cited under the Surplus Crown Assets Act and FD 350-1 – Asset Management.
19. Firearms will be disposed of according to the Process for the Disposal of Firearms as directed by the Director General, Security.
20. Equipment in working condition and considered surplus will be reported to the Regional Administrator, Security, who may authorize redistribution within the region. If the security equipment is not required within the region, the information will be forwarded to the Director, Security Operations at National Headquarters, for authorized redistribution to other regions, if required.

21. Any chemical or inflammatory agents that have reached their expiry date but are deemed serviceable may be used for training purposes.
22. All chemical and inflammatory agents will be disposed of by a contractor identified by Public Services and Procurement Canada. Canisters and empty casings void of any chemical or inflammatory agents and rendered inert may be broken down and disposed of in accordance with local regulations.
23. The contract will stipulate that canisters destined for disposal will be collected from each operational site. These products must be safely stored in approved containers in accordance with Transport Canada Regulations.
24. Each bill of lading will cite the Security Maintenance Officer’s direct telephone number, the institutional telephone number for the Correctional Manager, Operations, or equivalent, and the Canadian Transport Emergency Centre (CANUTEC) telephone number (613-996-6666). This is to ensure that expert advice can be provided to the transporter and to emergency personnel in case of a chemical spill during transit.

Interim Commissioner,

Original signed by:

Anne Kelly

Annex A
Cross-References

CD 041 – Incident Investigations
FD 350-1 – Asset Management
CD 567 – Management of Security Incidents
CD 567-1 – Use of Force
CD 567-3 – Use of Restraint Equipment for Security Purposes
CD 567-4 – Use of Chemical and Inflammatory Agents
CD 567-5 – Use of Firearms
CD 568-1 – Recording and Reporting of Security Incidents
CD 600 – Management of Emergencies in Operational Units

Security Equipment Manual
National Security Equipment Committee Submission