Mounties no longer required to wear name tags while on duty

Mounties no longer required to wear name tags while on duty MATTHEW FRANK PUBLISHED 22 MINUTES AGO Open this photo in gallery: The RCMP is the latest Canadian police force to no longer require name tags, as law enforcement agencies try to adapt to the changing threat of doxxing and internet harassment against officers. ADRIAN WYLD/THE CANADIAN PRESS COMMENTS SHARE SAVE FOR LATER Listen to this article Learn more about audio Log in or create a free account to listen to this article. The RCMP has quietly changed its uniform policy to no longer require officers to wear name tags while on duty, a move that has drawn criticism from advocates and experts who say it will limit police transparency, complicate the complaints process and fuel distrust in Indigenous communities. The national police force made the change in a uniform policy amendment that has been in place since March 30, according to a briefing note obtained by The Globe and Mail through access-to-information legislation. The updated policy allows officers to instead display their regimental number, a change from the previous policy, which only permitted officers to remove their name tags when they were working at protests. The briefing note, signed by RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, is dated April 26 and addressed to Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree. It states the change was made to tackle officer safety concerns and deter doxxing, which is the act of publicly sharing someone’s personal information, while “maintaining accountability.” However, the RCMP also acknowledged the change carries potential consequences. “There is a risk that stakeholders may perceive numeric identifiers as reducing transparency and therefore there are potential impacts on community and Indigenous relations, particularly in small communities,” the document stated. RCMP refused release of badge numbers, fearing convoy supporters would dox officers The RCMP is the latest Canadian police force to no longer require name tags, as law enforcement agencies try to adapt to the changing threat of doxxing and internet harassment against officers. Last year, the Calgary Police Service changed its policy to allow officers the choice of either name tags or badge numbers for their uniforms. Vancouver’s municipal police force also has a similar policy. In Winnipeg, the city’s police officers only display their badge numbers. While Toronto police officers have been required to wear name tags since 2006, Toronto…