Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams (INSET; french: Équipes intégrées de la sécurité nationale, ''EISN'') are Canadian counter-terrorist, counter-foreign interference and counter-espionage security forces operating under the auspices of Public Safety Canada. These federal investigative teams were formed in 2002 in response to the September 11 attacks. Canadian provinces will have National Security Enforcement Sections (NSES) instead of an INSET in places that do not have a large city.

History

The INSET was formed in 2002 after the 9/11 attacks. Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver NSES units were changed to be INSETs in response to the attacks. An INSET operating in Toronto played a major role in the capture of 17 terror suspects on June 2, 2006. In 2012, INSETs were tasked to secure Albertan energy infrastructure from all attacks. On May 6, 2022, the RCMP reported that an INSET team arrested an unnamed individual with officers from the Ontario Provincial Police Provincial Anti-Terrorism Section (OPP PATS) and the Windsor Police Service for contributing to terrorist activity.

Controversies

On April 2022, unnamed RCMP officers have resigned from an INSET unit after they were briefed to arrest a suspect without being told why by CSIS.https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rcmp-csis-national-security-1.6432787

Mandate

The mandate of INSETs is as follows: # Increase the capacity to collect, share and analyze intelligence among partners, with respect to targets (individuals) that are a threat to national security. # To create an enhanced enforcement capacity to bring such targets to justice. # Enhance partner agencies' collective ability to combat national security threats and meet specific mandate responsibilities.

Locations

INSET teams are operating in Toronto, Vancouver,

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

, Montreal and Edmonton.

Organization

INSETs are made up of personnel from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP),

Canada Border Services Agency The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA; french: Agence des services frontaliers du Canada, ''ASFC'') is a federal law enforcement agency that is responsible for border control (i.e. protection and surveillance), immigration enforcement, and cu ...

(CBSA), Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), and police forces at the municipal and provincial levels, are tasked with investigating criminal national security matters domestically and internationally.

References