Gun Crime and Firearms

Investments to Combat the Criminal Use of Firearms (ICCUF) Initiative

Public Safety Canada (PS) provides advice to the Minister on firearms issues. Additionally, we are engaged in research on the criminal use of firearms, which is part of a Government of Canada investment initiative to combat this serious problem.

About the ICCUF Initiative

On May 20, 2004, the federal government allocated approximately $50 million over five years for the Investments to Combat the Criminal Use of Firearms Initiative. In 2009, funding was approved on an ongoing basis. These funds enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies to combat gun crime, and the smuggling and trafficking of firearms.

The ICCUF operates as a horizontal federal initiative, involving the Canada Border Services Agency, Criminal Intelligence Service Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Public Safety Canada.

The overall focus of the Initiative is to improve the national collection, analysis and sharing of firearms-related intelligence and information.

The Initiative's activities include:

Expanding the use of new technology for more effective crime scene investigations by establishing a Canadian Integrated Ballistic Identification Network;
Providing ongoing funding to the National Weapons Enforcement Support Team that offers investigative support to front-line police agencies in gathering evidence;
Placing CBSA Regional Intelligence Firearms Liaison Officers (RIFLO) across Canada to collect, develop, coordinate and disseminate tactical and operational intelligence; and
Enhancing the criminal intelligence capacity of the RCMP, the CBSA and the Criminal Intelligence Service of Canada to gather and share intelligence, and augment their firearms tracing capacity

Throughout this Initiative, PS will provide ongoing policy advice and conduct research on gun crime issues.