3896 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

Berube the math scholar:



“While there’s no doubt Vancouver has way more calls for service than Port Alberni, the CSI will show it differently. For example, let’s say there was 20 robberies in Vancouver the year before and this year it had 25 robberies, we would look at a 25 per cent increase in robberies. But if in Port Alberni there were five robberies the previous year and 10 the following year, we are looking at a 50 per cent increase,” he said.

https://www.timescol...wn-life-5694839

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 15 August 2022 - 01:23 AM.

[Mike K.]

Is that how the CSI is calculated, or is Berube wrong?

Black Press actually printed its wrong data on the Sooke CSI numbers, in the Sooke paper.

18% increase according to their (wrong) numbers, but described as a slight ‘decease.’ It was indeed a slight decrease, by .02. They reported ~47 -> 56.5.

[Victoria Watcher]

Berube:

20 to 25: 25% increase
5 to 10: 50% increase

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 15 August 2022 - 08:36 AM.

[Nparker]

Must be the New Math.

[Mike K.]

Yeah, I was more thinking that he was saying smaller communities put greater weight on these crime stats, but that doesn't make sense.

 

I still don't understand the small vs. big analogy. I mean the impact of crime doesn't change on an average person, just because you live in a smaller or larger community. 10 murders in Vancouver are not quite as bad as 1 in Spuzzum, so naturally Spuzzum would have a significantly higher CSI, right? But it makes sense that it does.

 

Look at Campbell River. Murders, shootings, stabbings, etc. For a small town that place is off the rails.

[Victoria Watcher]

Yes. I also draw a distinction between targeted and random crimes. Domestic assault or murders are not a specific concern of the general population.

[Mike K.]

Yes, that’s a good point. The CSI doesn’t account for that, does it?

[pontcanna]

Esquimalt council votes to end VicPD police agreement

Aug. 16, 2022

Esquimalt council has unanimously voted to not renew the framework agreement for Victoria Police to provide policing services in the township.

This decision comes after public consultation, where 52 per cent of respondents said they were satisfied with policing levels in the municipality.

Of the 473 survey respondents, 65 per cent of people said they had interactions with VicPD officers, and 62 per cent said they were satisfied with the interaction.

A consulting firm presented results of public consultation to the council in a June 2022 committee of the whole meeting.

A consultant hired to look into policing in Esquimalt compared costs the municipality paid compared to similar sized municipalities between 15,000 – 25,000 residents, as well as other municipalities in the Capital Regional District.

The findings showed Esquimalt paid among the highest operatings costs for comparable sized municipalities, and similarly to other municipalities on the South Island.

In terms of perception of value for money, 33 per cent of respondents were very unsatisfied with benefits and costs of policing services, 27 per cent were somewhat unsatisfied, and eight per cent were neutral.

Following the engagement, council voted to notify the Province of B.C., the Police Board and the City of Victoria that the township will not be renewing the 10-year Framework Agreement.

This decision by the Esquimalt council comes after years of tension in determining how to fund Victoria Police, with Esquimalt wanting to see more policing resources dedicated to the municipality. Most recently in March 2022, Esquimalt council denied a request from VicPD for additional funding.

In 2022, Esquimalt’s share of the total police budget is 13.67 per cent, which accounts for 22 per cent ($8.4 million) of the township’s annual budget. This funding includes operational and administrative resources.

“Most of the administrative resources work at the main headquarters building in Victoria and many provide support remotely,” says a report presented to the Committee of the Whole in June.

“In a smaller police service, such as Central Saanich, some of these services (such as IT and finance) are provided in-kind by the municipality at no cost. In the larger departments, including VicPD, these functions are carried out by full-time resources.”

The Request for Proposals to hire consultants to prepare a Police Service Model report and a transition plan for delivery of Township of Esquimalt policing services will be published August 17, 2022.

 

More: https://www.cheknews...eement-1076852/

 

 

[Mike K.]

Wowzers.

This is what the last seven years have created. First it was the Elsner affair, that dragged Mayor Desjardins into a years-long catastrophe, and now it’s a police force so over burdened by the CoV’s problems that it can’t provide the level of service expected by Esquimalt.

It would make the most sense for the RCMP to expand to Esquimalt. They already service the reserve and send units from West Shore.

[Nparker]

Didn't the province force Esquimalt into the policing agreement with the CoV? Could they veto E-town's decision now?

[Victoria Watcher]

Esquimalt tried to break away from the forced marriage a decade ago but was rebuffed by the province.



https://www.timescol...reement-5303586

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 August 2022 - 11:30 AM.

[pontcanna]

Chief Manak | Statement on Township of Esquimalt’s Decision Not To Renew Policing Agreement

 

Date: Tuesday, August 16, 2022

 

I am disappointed to see this decision from Esquimalt Council as our officers are deeply committed to serving the residents of Esquimalt and have built a high level of trust and engagement with the community.

 

VicPD has proudly served Esquimalt residents for many years. Our officers have provided an excellent level of police service and have developed strong community connections. We know how much Esquimalt residents value these connections, from the positive interactions we have with residents every day, and the feedback we receive on our annual community survey. This decision is a cost-saving measure and no reflection on the excellent police service provided by VicPD officers. I’m hopeful that when government reviews this, it will be viewed through the lens of the recommendations from the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act, specific to a regional approach to a fragmented policing structure.

 

I want to ensure Township of Esquimalt residents that VicPD will continue to proudly serve your community and respond to all of your public safety needs until any decision on this matter is finalized by the provincial government.

 

[Spy Black]

Manak has to be a bit full of it (and perhaps full of himself as well), as if even part of what he was saying was true, Esquimalt wouldn't be biting at the bit to get rid of VicPD.

 

But the RCMP do make a lot of sense, as a massive infrastructure is already present relatively near-by on the Westshore ... or perhaps they've had some backroom conversations with Saanich?

[Barrrister]

Not a total surprise considering that Victoria has turned itself into a real nightmare. 

[Victoria Watcher]

Del Manak said Esquimalt needs provincial approval before it can split from the agreement, which means there’s a chance Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth could use the process to make bigger changes.

“This is where I hold out hope as an optimist,” said Manak. “Government right now is sitting on a report from the special committee on reforming the Police Act and one of the recommendations is a regional approach to policing.

“So maybe this allows government to move forward on one of the recommendations. Perhaps this might be an opportunity to make major structural changes in the makeup of the police departments here in the south Island.”


https://www.timescol...ictoria-5704015








Why stop there? Now is a great time to terminate Esquimalt. Just add it to one of the three other municipalities it borders.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 17 August 2022 - 04:03 AM.

[Mike K.]

Stephen Andrew is in support of Esquimalt:

The following is a statement from Stephen Andrew, City of Victoria Councillor and mayoral candidate, on the Town of Esquimalt’s decision to not renew its police service agreement with the City of Victoria:

“I respect Esquimalt Council’s decision. The current situation is problematic and does not serve the needs of policing throughout the region, especially Victoria.”

“I always advocated for a standalone police service, or a regional model, for Victoria. We are a city of 90,000 people in 19 sq km, but because support services are centralized in the city, we wind up bearing the cost of residents coming downtown for support. We carry an undue burden of policing the issues and challenges of the region. It must end.”

“The decision of any policing model is the jurisdiction of the provincial government; it makes the final call, as it did in 2003 when it ordered the amalgamation of the Esquimalt and Victoria police departments.”

“This decision is no reflection on the invaluable service provided by the members of the Victoria Police Department.”

“While we wait for a decision from the province, I continue to advocate for solutions that make sense for Victoria residents and taxpayers. I continue to work for collaborative solutions to enable the 400,000-people strong capital region to mitigate our unique challenges effectively and efficiently.”

[lanforod]

I'm really confused why every other city/municipality in this province seems to make it's own choices re. what policing model to follow, but Esquimalt must get the province to approve?

[Mike K.]

The province must approve all policing decisions of this magnitude.

I believe back in the early 2000s the province forced Esquimalt to take on VicPD after its shared firefighting/policing department ran into some level of problems.

Esquimalt is currently expanding its police and fire hall. I wonder if that decision was made knowing council would be severing its VicPD relationship.

[Hotel Mike]

Maybe the provincial government will use this as an opportunity to impose amalgamation on our area.

[spanky123]

Maybe the provincial government will use this as an opportunity to impose amalgamation on our area.

 

If you think about it, it benefits the Province to have 13 munis battling each other then 1 battling the Province!