Whereas there is a perception by the public that property crime, street crime and disorderly conduct are increasing, resulting in decreases in their quality of life and their confidence in the justice system; And whereas property crime, street crime and disorderly conduct arise from a complex set of conditions engendered by addiction, homelessness, poverty and illness; And whereas there is a public perception that the justice system makes decisions in relative isolation from the community and views property crime as a nuisance rather than a crime creating a revolving door for repeat offenders with few funded options for alternative crime reduction strategies: Therefore be it resolved that the UBCM work with the Province to encourage and to fund alternative crime reduction strategies including: - Justice, Health and Social services systems, and municipal police to work more closely together; - Provide residents, businesses, and other community members with opportunities to participate in the justice system; and - Identifying and separating offenders who could be helped by treatment, services and supports from those who should be in jail.
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General As part of the Provincial Governments Safer Communities Action Plan, announced November 20, 2022, ministry staff are undertaking work that includes launching new repeat violent offender co-ordinated response teams composed of police and dedicated prosecutors and probation officers, as well as expanding mental-health crisis response teams into more communities. The ministry is supportive of alternative crime reduction strategies. Ministry staff are leading efforts to expand Situation Tables in BC to alleviate police workload pressures and offer appropriate supports to vulnerable populations. The goal of the program is to proactively identify vulnerable people at imminent risk and rapidly connect them to services before they experience a negative or traumatic event. Currently, there are 17 Tables active across BC and ministry staff is working on implementing an additional 10. The ministry is also in the process of securing First Nations community partners for an Intervention Circle Pilot initiative, which would be a First Nation led collaborative public safety initiative. Staff are currently in various stages of engagement with four communities. The initial goal is to implement the program in two communities and evaluate the success to determine whether it should be expanded to other communities across BC. The ministry will take a phased approach in responding to the recommendations of the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act, including the recommendation to create and appropriately fund a continuum of response to mental health, addictions, and other complex social issues with a focus on prevention and community-led responses and ensuring appropriate first response. The ministry and UBCM are co-chairing the Local Government Policing Modernization Roundtable, which meets regularly, to analyze and discuss implementing the report recommendations that impact local governments.