DFO ordered to improve officer gear to counter threat from ‘criminals’ with firearms [Video]

HALIFAX –

A labour investigator has agreed with federal fishery officers that heavily armed criminals pose a threat to their lives and has ordered managers to take steps immediately to reduce the danger.

In a report issued Friday to the fisheries department, the federal labour program’s compliance unit concludes “protective equipment and tactical protocols” currently used during fisheries investigations are inadequate.

The finding by the senior investigator — obtained by The Canadian Press — comes in response to fisheries department enforcement officers filing refusal to work applications under provisions of the Canada Labour Code.

The investigator concludes fishery officers in the Maritime region are having to confront people with weapons, including cases where intelligence indicates the fisher “keeps an assault rifle on board.”

The report also says there are cases where “outlaw motorcycle gangs are armed with firearms.” It concurs with fishery officers that “a number of the illegal fishers that officers deal with regularly are convicted violent criminals and have threatened officers directly …