Here is a rundown of highlights from community safety coordinator Herb Sutton’s monthly monitoring report to North Battleford council on Monday night.
Sutton was obviously not happy about another disappointing score for North Battleford on the national Crime Severity Index compiled by StatsCan.
For 2015, North Battleford finished with a score of 321– which was again the worst in the country for cities over 10,000 population. Prince Albert was second.
“I’m disappointed but not surprised,” Sutton said of the numbers.
Still, he said he’s “feeling good about where we’re at in the city, about what the city, what this council, what the city leadership, what agencies and organizations and residents are doing, in spite of the data. I still believe that we’re on the right track.”
He cited the importance of having a research base to what they were doing, and added “the research says it’s going to take some time.”
He also noted more work was needed to address the root causes of criminal behaviour – addictions, mental health, poverty, housing and food security, referring to comments by RCMP Insp. John Sutherland in the media to that effect.
In other areas, Sutton was very happy with the growth of numbers for Citizens on Patrol.
They have added a total of three new members and Sutton reports those members could encourage their friends to join as well.
He also reported Citizens on Patrol monitored the traffic on 95th Street and 19th Avenue and it produced some interesting results – they found people on 95th Street were actually meeting the speed limit, but there was a lot of speeding recorded on 19th Avenue so more enforcement could be coming there.
Sutton reported further CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) initiatives including Art Alley, which he called an example of how to improve the image of an area – cited as a CPTED principle.
As well, four barbecues were held in June in conjunction with the playground program, serving 400 people to encourage “cohesion” in neighbourhoods in the city. Cohesion is another CPTED principle.
The SAGE group is helping with three community engagement barbecues in August, to connect with local residents and speak about community safety.
The HUB table has continued to meet and Sutton reports Tonya Browarny has done a great job leading the HUB table after the departure of Kevin Steinborn as co-chair.
Sutton also reported Concern for Youth has now moved into their new quarters at the Don Ross Centre and have expanded staff, focusing on implementing programming for teens. An added bonus is close proximity to the government services that are located there.
The funding situation for The Lighthouse Serving the Battlefords continues to have Sutton concerned. He reported Lighthouse manager Caitlin Glencross had been in discussion with Social Services about the status of ongoing and sustainable funding.
Sutton reported The Lighthouse is “waiting anxiously” to hear from Social Services and they will make decisions on their future based on what Social Services can provide. They have also not yet heard about whether Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs will make a commitment for another year.
“We’re running out of time,” Sutton said of the situation. He expressed concern that if Social Services was not able to provide the funding that is required, “then we are back to where we were two years ago with no plan in place for folks who are out on the street during wintertime.”
