August 18, 2009 – The RCMP has shared its expertise with Australian police to help them implement a program that trains police how to detect and apprehend traveling criminals on local highways. CATCH (Crime and Traffic Connecting on Highways) is the Australian program modeled after a Canadian program called Operation Pipeline/Convoy/Jetway.
Members of the RCMP ’s Traffic Services section recently traveled to Australia at the invitation of the Victoria Police. They trained over 300 police from Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western and Southern Australia as well as New Zealand to gather intelligence on criminal activities and to curb smuggling and related crimes. In addition, 17 Australian police officers were certified as CATCH instructors.
Assistant Commissioner Paul Evans of the Victoria Police presented the three RCMP officers who brought the program to Australia with a Regional Commendation for their efforts.
“Canada’s Operation Pipeline/Convoy/Jetway Program uses a common sense policing approach to detecting traveling criminals,” said RCMP Deputy Commissioner, Darrell Madill. “This program is recognized as a best practice in Canadian law enforcement and it has proven to be an effective tool in our efforts to disrupt organized crime as well as enhance public safety. We were pleased to be able to share this program with our policing partners in Australia.”
Immediately following the training, Australian police began to see results. Several contraband seizures were made including marihuana, ecstacy, cash, pirated DVDs, illegal fireworks and fake identification. Like the Canadian program, Australia hopes to roll-out their criminal interdiction program nationally.
“The potential benefits of Operation CATCH to Victoria Police, Australia as a whole, and New Zealand include improved outcomes in areas of crime, traffic and counter-terrorism,” said Victoria Police Superintendent I.W. (Harry) Hayes (APM) and chair of the committee driving the introduction of the program in Australia.
Superintendent. Hayes added that, “the friendships forged during this exchange are enduring and demonstrate that different police agencies can and do provide valuable service to other agencies throughout the world in their pursuit to ensure safer communities.”
The interdiction process originated in the United States, but RCMP officer Sgt. Rob Ruiters brought the concept to Canada in 1994 and adapted the Pipeline program to meet Canadian needs and realities. Since then, the program has contributed to the seizure of almost $4 billion worth of contraband. It has even led to the arrest of escaped prisoners and illegal aliens, located missing children and thousands of charges laid under provincial statutes.
The Pipeline/Convoy portion of the program focuses on highway interdiction and is managed by RCMP Traffic Services. The Jetway component is managed by the RCMP ’s Drug Branch and focuses on interdicting the transport of contraband from local bus terminals, airports and train stations.
