Prince George RCMP Supt. Eric Stubbs met with city council Monday night to discuss the future of the Downtown Enforcement Unit.
The five-officer unit was formed in April, 2010 as a pilot project to combat crime in the city's downtown. Since the unit was formed, crime is down 24 per cent downtown, Stubbs wrote in his report to city council.
"People feel safe, or at least safer, in the downtown core. Even some of our strongest critics amongst the social service agencies concede that conditions have improved in the past 18 months," Stubbs wrote. "Despite these positive numbers it is important to understand that the DEU has a tenuous grip on crime downtown. The DEU have seen first hand that when enforcement efforts are reduced, the problems quickly return to the downtown core."
Calls to the RCMP from the public have dropped 30 per cent - from 2,677 to 1,869 - in the past 18 months compared to the 18 months prior to the formation of the Downtown Enforcement Unit.
Further progress can be made in the next 18 months, Stubbs wrote. However, the RCMP
are facing staffing challenges because of the five staff committed to the unit.
Downtown Enforcement Unit commander Cpl. Kent MacNeill has been seconded to the unit from the detachment's Serious Crimes Unit. The four constables come from the general duty watches, Stubbs wrote.
"This has caused strain on both the Serious Crimes Unit and general duty section," he wrote. "There is still significant room for improvement downtown. [But] the ability to realize these improvements will be somewhat dependent on the level of ongoing, coordinated resources that can be brought to bear on the problem."
Stubbs spelled out five options for the future of the unit: maintain the status quo, dissolve the unit, reduce the unit to three staff, fund all five positions in the DEU, or fund three positions and return two officers back to their units.
Funding all five officers in the unit would cost $560,718 in 2012 and $768,125 in 2013. Funding three positions would cost $336,431 in 2012 and $460,875 in 2013.
Each option represents a comprise between enforcement downtown, pressure on other police services and city spending, he wrote.
"The options outlined are specific to police requirements," Stubbs wrote. "The addition of non-police staffing in the downtown to assist the work of the DEU could be an option to consider."
City council had not discussed the issue as of press time.
