Fraud Conference Highlights Online Awareness

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Wellesley Consulting Services

Canadian government bodies, law enforcement agencies, and industry organizations are hosting a first-ever fraud conference in Ottawa from March 7-8, 2011, according to a Government of Canada website.

The Competition Bureau website highlights toolkits and other resources for “Fraud Prevention Month” which occurs in March each year. This year, they are also involved the planning of the inaugural fraud conference, which will run over two days next week at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier.

The two-day schedule is heavily geared towards digital-age fraud issues, such as phishing and spoofing, spamming, and web 2.0 privacy and identity theft. Speakers include OPP and RCMP officers, as well as representatives from the Canadian Bankers Association, Competition Bureau, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Industry Canada, TransUnion, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other public and private bodies.

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the world’s premiere fraud prevention and professional accreditation body, also holds frequent annual fraud awareness conferences, across the U.S., Canada, and around the world. The ACFE’s 22nd annual conference is scheduled for June in San Diego, Calif., and the Canadian ACFE conference will be held in Toronto in November.

Status of Norinco Type 97 Questioned

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Wellesley Consulting Services

The Globe and Mail reports that the RCMP have recently re-classified the Chinese-made Norinco Type 97 rifle as a prohibited firearm, jeopardizing its ownership by a handful of the rifle’s owners who purchased it when it was considered a restricted firearm.

According to the report, the decision came after the RCMP determined the rifle, which is manufactured as a semi-automatic, could be easily converted to a full automatic. The RCMP is now asking owners of those firearms to surrender them.

The firearms originally had been imported by Lever Arms Service Ltd in Vancouver, BC, and an early shipment had been classified as restricted due to barrel length. However, a subsequent shipment of rifles that had longer barrels, in order to have them classified as non-restricted, was referred to RCMP firearms experts who apparently were able to convert them to full automatic, and determined they were prohibited.

The Type 97 rifle is a civilian sporting version of the Chinese army QBZ-97 rifle chambered in .223 Remington. It has a “bull-pup” configuration, meaning the magazine is to the rear of the trigger and action.

Although the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) has the responsibility for deciding on litigation involving matters of imported goods classification, certain types of items, including weapons and firearms, require expert classification.

The RCMP website does not list the Norinco Type 97 as a prohibited firearm.

The National Firearms Association, a firearms owner lobby group, said on their website in April this year that the RCMP decision to reclassify the Norinco rifle is an “arbitrary” action that is a “deliberate attempt to circumvent the parliamentary process” because firearms are normally re-classified either by an Act of Parliament, or by an government Order-in-Council.

The NFA also argues that most firearms could conceivably be converted to full automatic with the adequate training and tools. It is an offence under the Criminal Code to convert a firearm to full automatic.

The government is offering $1,400 compensation to Type 97 rifle owners who turn in their firearms to the RCMP.

The NFA is advising Type 97 owners to initiate hearing in court to determine the legality of the RCMP’s demand.

Marking Regulations Deferred Again

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Wellesley Consulting Services

Firearms Marking Regulations have been deferred until December 2012. Image: WELLESLEY CONSULTING SERVICES

Regulations requiring all imported firearms to bear a specific marking, including a two-letter country code, have been deferred until December 1, 2012, according to a notice from the Privy Council Office, a government department responsible for advising government leaders.

The RCMP, which administers firearms licencing and registration through the Canada Firearms Program, posted an advisory on their website late last week.

The marking regulations were called for by a 2001 United National Firearms Protocol and aimed at reducing weapons trafficking worldwide. Canada signed the protocol and passed a regulation requiring the implementation of the program, but under the current government has deferred it several times.

Last year, the Canadian Shooting Sports Association estimated that implementing the regulations could cost businesses that import firearms an average of $200 for each firearm.

RCMP Release Commissioner’s Firearms Report

Posted on October 22, 2010 by Wellesley Consulting Services

Last week the RCMP released the 2009 Report from the Commissioner of Firearms. The report provides statistics and information about the Canadian Firearms Program, which has been under RCMP administration since 2006.

Several key areas are highlighted in the report, including the contribution to public safety of the firearms registration program, through online query to front line law enforcement, which has been resoundingly debated by various interested groups and the government. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police have frequently commented on the continued need for the firearms registry, and in particular the “long-gun” registry, as a critical tool for police.

On the other hand, shooter’s interest groups such as the Canadian Shooting Sports Association, with the support of members of the government, have repeatedly called for the registry to be scrapped. Last month, a private member’s bill to do just that was struck down in Parliament, by a narrow vote.

Of particular interest to the firearms safety training industry is the section of the report on the firearms safety program, which is cited first in the chapter, ”Contribution to Public Safety”.

The growth of firearms training over the last five years has been tremendous, leaping from 55,908 non-restricted test graduates in 2005 to 83,287 in 2009. For restricted firearms, the popularity has been more staggering, and in the same period the number of restricted test graduates jumped from 10,620 to 22,773, according to the RCMP’s statistics.

At least part of the reason for the remarkable growth in the numbers of successful restricted firearms tests completed could be the Canada Border Services Agency, which requires all new recruits to obtain a restricted and non-restricted licence prior to appointment. Until 2009, the agency was hiring with regularity. In addition, existing employees occupying armed positions have had to obtain a firearms licence prior to receiving duty firearm training. By October 2010, the agency had trained over 1,800 officers to carry a duty firearm.

Most interesting about the numbers of firearms safety course graduates over the last five years is that the numbers show a steady increase in every year, with no declining years. The trend, therefore, is that firearms safety training will continue to be in demand in the future, as people seek employment in armed public and private sector positions, and as more people become interested in shooting sports.

RCMP Release Report on Piracy and Counterfeiting

Posted on October 4, 2010 by Wellesley Consulting Services

Counterfeit products not only harm the economy, but put families at risk, according to police and experts. Image: Wellesley Consulting Services

Shopping malls are considered to be "soft targets" and may be targeted for terror attacks. (c) WELLESLEY CONSULTING SERVICES

Last month the Royal Canadian Mounted Police released a report on intellectual property crime in Canada over a four year period, according to a news release.

The National Intellectual Property Crime Treat Assessment, 2005-2008 details the “IP crime” threat to Canada’s economy and international reputation.

Among the key findings in the report are that there remains a strong demand by Canadians for counterfeit goods, that counterfeiters have ever-increasing sophistication in evading detection, and that China remains the chief source country for imported counterfeit goods.

IP crime is an international problem, and Interpol has established a program to combat it. The group meets regularly around the world, with their next law enforcement IP crime conference later this month in Hong Kong, which will feature police and customs authorities from around the globe, as well as industry representatives such as Louis Vuitton.

IP crime can have a disasterous effect on brand integrity and economic prosperity for international brands. It can also have a very real danger, as electrical goods and toys that do not meet safety standards or use inferior or toxic products can do actual harm to unsuspecting buyers and their families.

Organized crime groups are often behind larger counterfeiting operations, according to police and industry experts.