The local RCMP are laying out their plan of attack for the next year.
On Monday night, Prince George detachment Supt. Eric Stubbs laid out the list of priorities and issues the police are looking to tackle for city council.
Among the new initiatives is a goal to establish a domestic violence unit.
The idea was pitched back in February and is ready to move ahead under Cpl. Carla Cook as soon as next week, Stubbs told council.
"I'm really pleased we've got this off the ground," he said.
According to his report, local RCMP members attend more than 900 domestic violence calls each year.
Cook will work with police partner agencies to ensure those at a high-risk for domestic violence receive a higher level of support and to assure that all incidents follow RCMP and Attorney General policies.
"We can start helping our most high-risk people, the people that I've seen maybe slip through the cracks and we just don't have the support to do as good a job as we should do. I know [Cook] will be that net to help out," Stubbs said.
The corporal's job will also be to review some of the police files and make sure make sure the force is doing all they can for the victims.
Police are also looking to establish a comprehensive crime reduction program within the entire detachment, Stubbs said, by identifying and targeting prolific offenders in the community.
"When we identify somebody, in most cases we go to them and inform them that in fact we are looking at you and we want to change behaviour. Our goal is to change behaviour. It's not to charge," Stubbs said, though added they will not hesitate to charge if behaviour doesn't change.
The goal is for all the detachment's enforcement units to identify a minimum of 22 frequent offenders, while Traffic Services will focus on targeting 200 impaired drivers.
"If successful, this will drive down the crime rate in a number of Criminal Code categories," Stubbs explained.
And while he was mum on details, Stubbs did include that targeting gang activity is a priority. Mid- to high-level members of organized crime groups are the focus of a combined effort between the Drug Task Force, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit and the Prince George Federal Drug Unit.
But before they can reach that level, police are also continuing to reach out to high-risk youth. Stubbs said he was excited about a new pilot project with the Ministry of Children and Family Development where a social worker will connect the RCMP's Youth at Risk Team member on weekend nights.
"Their goals will be to connect with the high-risk youth, aid in monitoring curfew checks, ensuring the youth are properly identified and locating our missing/AWOL youth," Stubbs said.
The city's Downtown Enforcement Unit will continue the work they've done since their establishment in 2009. They will focus on chronic offenders, conduct enforcement projects to increase safety in the downtown core and also make efforts to establish a Bar Watch program.
