Public safety is not what it should be in Moncton. We can do better. We must do better.
Public safety is the most important issue in the present municipal elections, and rightfully so.
Breaks & enters and minor thefts have risen recently. Some citizens have been assaulted. Others have had their cars stolen.
Many citizens are afraid to let their kids play in their front or back yards or fear taking a walk in their own neighbourhood.
Many businesses have suffered significant financial losses as a result of the recent wave of criminal activity.
Such increases have occurred throughout the city over the past two years, but Ward 2 has been hit the hardest.
The downtown area and the West End have been a target, but other parts have suffered as well, notably Victoria Park.
Our police officers are outstanding folks, but the recent crime wave is overwhelming. They need support.
Normally, adding police officers does not reduce crime. Also, at an average annual cost of $130,000 per RCMP member, adding more members would be a very expensive solution. But these are not 'normal' circumstances. Moncton needs to tackle this issue effectively and immediately.
Since 2010, I've argued for the hiring of 13 Community Police Officers (CPOs) to complement policing efforts. This represents 10% of police officers. Based on my research, CPOs in Surrey, B.C. provided an effective and efficient solution. Our CPOs would patrol Main street and other hot spots to ensure public safety and work with social inclusion groups, vulnerable citizens and schools to prevent crime and improve social inclusion.
The majority of Council refused to act... until now, when it was forced to react to the circumstances... just in time for the municipal elections.
Recently, Council finally decided to hire eight CPOs in 2021. Bravo! But why did Council take so long? And why only 8 CPOs?
A responsible Council does not react when it deals with essential services like policing to ensure public safety - it thinks ahead. Our Council did not.
There are several reasons for the crime wave; there are several solutions as well. It is a complex question. There is no single, magic solution.
We must tackle the root causes of crime. Education, mental health, substance abuse and employment are among the main risk factors for crime.
(Please consult the section on Social Inclusion for more details on how I plan to address that issue over the long term.)
Eliminating homelessness is an important solution, but the City must act immediately to tackle the recent crime wave before it gets out of hand.
I commit to appointing a liaison councillor to resolve the issue of public safety before the end of summer 2021.
The councillor would work with key stakeholders to recommend immediate public safety measures for Council's consideration.
Among other things, I will ask the liaison councillor to look at how other cities are fighting crime with surveillance cameras and other innovative ideas.
I commit to hiring a total of 13 Community Police Officers by the end of summer 2021 and ensuring that they have the necessary powers to ensure the safety of our residents and our businesses and to prevent crime and improve our social inclusion.
If police and public safety are so important, the City must invest accordingly.