New ATIPP shows RNC membership near historic lows

St. John’s, NL (July 28, 2025) – Helen Conway Ottenheimer, PC Shadow Minister for Justice and Public Safety and MHA for Harbour Main, spoke out again today after a new Access to Information Request which shows the numbers of Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officers has dropped over the past decade of Liberal Government.

The PC Official Opposition had requested the number of active duty RNC Officers as of December 31^st for each year from 2015 to 2024.  According to the official response attached, the number dropped from 394 in 2015 to a low of 372 in 2022 and was slightly higher at 379 as of December 31^st, 2025.

“Last week, to no one’s surprise, we learned Newfoundland and Labrador had the highest increase in crime rates among all provinces and territories.  While most other provinces went down, ours went up 5%. You only need to see the shocking incident last week that claimed a man’s life in broad daylight to understand the seriousness of the problem.”

MHA Conway Ottenheimer noted the Liberal Government has asked the RNC to do more and more in the province, including significant jurisdictional expansion on the West Coast.

“What these numbers prove is, despite the many photo ops and reannouncements, the RNC is smaller than it was when the Liberals came to power.  There are less officers on the streets to keep us safe.  That is the Liberal record.  Period.”

The MHA noted a new PC Government will fill vacant police positions, properly resource both police forces and establish mental health crisis units.