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BC Policing and Community Safety Plan - Ministry of Justice ...

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anything towards the team/service. There are other agreements where multiple municipalities receive multipleregional services, but each municipality contributes by paying for only one <strong>of</strong> the services.NEXT STEPS: Beginning in 2013 <strong>and</strong> with a target date for completion in Fall 2015, the <strong>Ministry</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Justice</strong> will,with the participation <strong>of</strong> key stakeholders such as local government <strong>and</strong> a committee <strong>of</strong> experts, commence acomprehensive project to address Action Item #1.•¡Enhance the continuum <strong>of</strong> policing <strong>and</strong> public security options availableACTION ITEM #2: The <strong>Ministry</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Justice</strong> will develop a public safety model including existing <strong>and</strong> new categories<strong>of</strong> law enforcement personnel to provide cost-effective services in support <strong>of</strong> policing.CONSULTATION FINDINGS: During the consultation, it was agreed that police across the province arebecoming overburdened. Participants also agreed that law enforcement <strong>and</strong> public safety functions could bedelivered in more cost-effective ways. Many felt that the full spectrum <strong>of</strong> law enforcement <strong>and</strong> public safetyfunctions (special provincial constables, auxiliaries, by-law <strong>of</strong>ficers, private security) should be examinedin terms <strong>of</strong> their roles <strong>and</strong> m<strong>and</strong>ates to potentially reduce the burdens <strong>and</strong> costs <strong>of</strong> policing.CHALLENGE: The <strong>Ministry</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Justice</strong> recognizes that police agencies are challenged to deliver front-linepolicing within their existing resources <strong>and</strong> there is increased need for supplemental law enforcement <strong>and</strong>other support services. 23 It is critical however, that appropriate accountability systems <strong>and</strong> adequate training<strong>and</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ards are in place.NEXT STEPS: Beginning in 2014, the <strong>Ministry</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Justice</strong> will conduct an in-depth review <strong>of</strong> similar models inother jurisdictions <strong>and</strong> conduct a comprehensive review <strong>of</strong> law enforcement, private security <strong>and</strong> public safetygroups in the province <strong>and</strong> their legislative authorities with a target date for completion <strong>of</strong> March 2016. Along-term goal is an enhanced framework for categories <strong>of</strong> law enforcement personnel which provide supportto policing.•¡First Nations policingACTION ITEM #3: In consultation with First Nations, police, the <strong>Ministry</strong> <strong>of</strong> Aboriginal Relations <strong>and</strong>Reconciliation, local governments <strong>and</strong> the federal government, the <strong>Ministry</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Justice</strong> will reform the servicedelivery framework <strong>of</strong> the First Nations <strong>Policing</strong> Program in British Columbia.CONSULTATION FINDINGS: During the roundtable <strong>and</strong> focus group discussions participants agreed that communication<strong>and</strong> education are keys to building <strong>and</strong> strengthening relationships <strong>and</strong> trust with First Nationscommunities. Greater multi-agency collaboration <strong>and</strong> community engagement are needed to address issuessuch as drug <strong>and</strong> alcohol addiction, mental health <strong>and</strong> domestic violence. Participants discussed issues withthe recruitment <strong>and</strong> retention <strong>of</strong> RCMP-First Nations <strong>Community</strong> <strong>Policing</strong> Service (FNCPS) members, lack <strong>of</strong>sustainable <strong>and</strong> equitable funding for the FNCPS, inadequate police response times, enforcement <strong>of</strong> b<strong>and</strong>by-laws, <strong>and</strong> lack <strong>of</strong> culturally appropriate alternatives to the justice system.CHALLENGE: Recent <strong>Ministry</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Justice</strong> initiatives have focused on delivering First Nations policing services<strong>and</strong> programs that are culturally sensitive <strong>and</strong> responsive to the needs <strong>of</strong> First Nations communities. Thisincludes increasing First Nations community engagement through Letters <strong>of</strong> Expectation which outline23 For example, the Special Provincial Constable (SPC) program continues to grow. Many organizations require or requestSPC appointments to deliver their m<strong>and</strong>ate <strong>and</strong> enforce program-specific legislation (for example, Gaming Policy <strong>and</strong>Enforcement, Liquor Control <strong>and</strong> Licensing, <strong>and</strong> Prevention <strong>and</strong> Loss Management Services). There are many challengeswith regard to consideration <strong>of</strong> SPC agency applications, including: increased dem<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> associated complexities <strong>of</strong>agency program m<strong>and</strong>ates; provision <strong>of</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ardized review <strong>and</strong> control; identification <strong>of</strong> the necessary training specificto need; provision <strong>of</strong> training in a cost-effective <strong>and</strong> timely manner; <strong>and</strong> provision <strong>of</strong> a rigorous oversight process.28BRITISH COLUMBIA POLICING AND COMMUNITY SAFETY PLAN

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