Results of an Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) member survey shows municipalities are concerned about public safety issues.
According to survey data, 92 per cent of respondents noted that they are concerned about the lack of police presence throughout their communities while 90 per cent believe the province should not be able to replace municipal representatives on police boards with provincial appointees.
In addition, 84 per cent and 77 per cent of respondents noted that property crime and drug crime are likely to occur within their municipal boundaries. As well, 92 per cent of respondents also expressed concern about illicit drug use in their municipality.
“Public safety and crime prevention are top priorities for municipalities,” AMM president Kam Blight said. “Our survey results reaffirm that increased police visibility may help deter crime and make community members feel safer. Municipal officials are very frustrated with the practice of applying a catch-and-release approach to repeat offenders who are contributing to rising rates of crime in local communities. Police officers should be out on the street and in the community, rather than behind a desk filling out repetitive paperwork or waiting to testify in a courtroom.”
The survey was administered in April and 73 responses were received. The AMM was particularly interested in understanding public safety challenges throughout local communities across Manitoba.
The AMM will present the survey’s findings and initial recommendations to the provincial and federal governments while continuing to encourage all orders of government to work together to ensure greater supports are provided to municipalities.
“Moving forward, the AMM will continue to call on the provincial and federal governments to increase support for policing services in order to properly address local public safety priorities and help local governments manage increasing public safety costs,” Blight said.
For more information, a presentation summarizing the survey’s responses can be found at www.amm.mb.ca.
