Consultation has wrapped on the city's new crime reduction strategy.
A draft document stemming from the select committee on crime reduction and public safety - also known as the mayor's task force on crime - will go before council at a committee of the whole meeting Oct. 28.
The 18-page strategy lays out the specific actions to be undertaken over an 18-month period to "ensure the city of Prince George meets its goals of continuous improvement in crime reduction."
"While no city will ever be 100 per cent crime free, I know that the recommendations will also support increased public awareness of and involvement in crime reduction as well as improved collaboration amongst the many organizations that work to ensure community safety," said Mayor Shari Green in the draft strategy document.
More than 300 people participated in the consultation period during September at 34 scheduled engagement sessions led by members of the 11-person task force or through an online survey.
The strategy outlines seven recommendations that fall under four categories, or strands, and follows the model used successfully by the city of Surrey.
n Prevent and Deter: Develop and implement an integrated cross-agency initiative to assist high-risk youth to access necessary supports through improved resource co-ordination; implement a City Watch program.
n Apprehend and Prosecute: Co-ordinate city and RCMP resources to identify and map crime "hot spots."
n Rehabilitate and Reintegrate: Implement a graffiti reporting and removal program in partnership with an agency (or agencies) providing community service opportunities for offenders.
n Perception and Reality of Crime: Engage a research organization/firm to determine perceptions of crime and feelings of safety in Prince George; Identify and prioritize actions to address most fearful of and/or vulnerable to crime
Among the feedback received from the engagement sessions was a desire to have services available after 5 p.m.; revising the Leisure Access Program to ensure youth and families could access affordable recreation; installing security lights in problem areas; following the Alberta model of using sheriffs for minor policing issues; expanding the City Watch initiative to include neighbourhood garbage clean up; and promoting community and individual accomplishments.
The committee, which was scheduled to meet Wednesday morning but didn't reach quorum, will consider the feedback and whether to make any revisions to the draft strategy.
