3315 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

i just feel that sometimes sex workers and their supporters want it both ways.  they want to be able to work their trade with dignity and respect and be able to operate safely and sometimes openly (working openly is often safer).  but they also don't want to submit to regulations or pay taxes etc.  now some of the defenders of sex trade workers say that the most marginal sex workers can't afford to open storefronts or pay licensing fees.  but that's sort of like all poor business people.  if you are the worst nail technician in town and only doing nails today to get enough money for your next drug fix you might be a bad business operator and want to work in the shadows too.  if you are a very unattractive sex trade worker you might find it hard to make ends meet too.  that's also why it might be better that the government help steer you away from that trade.  

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 February 2020 - 07:52 AM.

[Mike K.]

That's the same argument used to deny women the right to vote a century ago: that politics was a dirty business and we need to spare their dignity by barring the fairer sex from the corrupt, smoky back rooms of politics. It's a paternalistic attitude.

Wasn’t the reaction to the comment made to Collins indicative of government’s own perception that sex work is a dirty business? Can’t have it both ways, either it’s dignified and no different than other professions or it isn’t. And if it’s no different, then let’s license and tax it like all other professions/businesses.

[Victoria Watcher]

Wasn’t the reaction to the comment made to Collins indicative of government’s own perception that sex work is a dirty business? Can’t have it both ways, either it’s dignified and no different than other professions or it isn’t. And if it’s no different, then let’s license and tax it like all other professions/businesses.

 

she also called for the other mp to apologize to all women.  not sure why she didn't want him to also apologize to other genders.  in and out of the sex trade.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 February 2020 - 07:54 AM.

[Mike K.]

One Woman In Custody After Early Morning Incident

File: 20-5654

Victoria, BC – A woman is in custody after an incident which began with a break and enter in the 1300-block of Broad Street this morning.

On Thursday, February 6th, 2020, shortly after 1:00 a.m., Patrol officers were called to the 1300-block of Broad Street for a report of an alarm at a business. Officers arrived on scene within minutes and observed the woman suspect, who had broken into a business at that location. The woman fled the scene via rooftop. A K9 unit was deployed to assist in locating the suspect.

The woman then broke into two separate suites in a nearby multi-unit residential building in the 1300-block of Douglas Street. The woman barricaded herself inside the second suite. During the incident, the woman discharged a fire extinguisher and pulled the fire alarm. Many building residents were evacuated.

The Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) attended the scene. Negotiation attempts were unsuccessful, and GVERT officers took the woman into custody approximately four hours after the initial call for service. A loud distraction device was used during the arrest, which has led to reports of an explosion in the area.

The woman was transported to the hospital at her request. She was not injured and was later released into police custody.

Officers are recommending multiple counts of Break and Enter and Mischief. The woman was held in custody to await morning court.

This file remains under investigation.

[Nparker]

Aww...just another desperate person that needs a hug and free housing.

[Rob Randall]

VicPD Launches ‘Project Downtown Connect’

 

VicPD is launching “Project Downtown Connect” today, an initiative aimed at increasing police visibility and engagement in Victoria’s downtown core.

 

“Project Downtown Connect” is scheduled to run for four months, with officers maintaining a consistent, high-visibility presence in the downtown area. The goal of this project is to respond to the concerns of the business community with respect to theft and to support local businesses downtown.

 

“It is a priority of VicPD to increase police visibility downtown,” said Chief Del Manak. “Our officers will continue to engage with local businesses, to build relationships, and to improve the safety of our community.”

 

This project was recently piloted by members of VicPD’s Community Services Division (CSD). Beginning in December of 2019, CSD officers increased police presence and visibility in the downtown core. CSD officers also engaged with the public and businesses to address concerns and to build relationships. Feedback from the business community and members of the public was overwhelmingly positive.

 

“Our small businesses are part of the lifeblood of our city,” said Mayor Lisa Helps. “I am proud of the work of VicPD officers and of their responsiveness and continued commitment to a high level of service in the downtown core.”

 

As part of “Project Downtown Connect,” officers will engage business owners and staff on recommended security improvements and applicable bylaws. In addition, officers will provide the business community with a better understanding of how and when to report incidents to the police.

 

“We are excited to see VicPD more present in our downtown core,” said Jeff Bray of the Downtown Victoria Business Association. “This initiative is a positive step in enhancing the safety of business employees and customers in our community.”

Due to resource constraints, this initiative will be staffed by officers from across the department on special duty assignment.

 

Post on VicPD.ca  |https://vicpd.ca/202...uV2utyz9qTvzmHU

Edited by Rob Randall, 10 February 2020 - 11:44 AM.

[VIResident]

Wait for it.... certain elements will simply be 'pushed' to the fringes i.e. Gorge, Esquimalt etc. 

Police won't be able to win no matter what they try. 

Political will and policy change is the ticket.

Read today that Nanaimo residents sick and tired of the crimes in their neighbourhood, a neighbourhood that became 'home' to a small tent city, took matters into their own hands. 

50 homeowners came together and dismantled, removed and scrubbed the tent-city.  

[Nparker]

...50 homeowners came together and dismantled, removed and scrubbed the tent-city.  

 https://www.cheknews...ampment-644639/

[Victoria Watcher]

 https://www.cheknews...ampment-644639/

 

 

The neighbours say they will return to remove much of what is left, but first, they’re going to ask the Regional District to waive the cost of dumping it at the landfill.

 

This comes at a time where it’s becoming more difficult to live without housing. Last month the City of Nanaimo announced it was stepping up enforcement of bylaws limited camping on road right-of-ways.

 

 

it's not difficult to "live without housing" you just have to live at a shelter.  not at some squat.

[Victoria Watcher]

central saanich appears to have a seriously bloated police force.  they spend 20% of their budget on police.

 

https://files.consta...00487dec011.pdf

 

saanich is only 17.6 and sidney is 11.6 and north saanich is 10.4%.

[Gipper]

central saanich appears to have a seriously bloated police force. they spend 20% of their budget on police.

https://files.consta...00487dec011.pdf

saanich is only 17.6 and sidney is 11.6 and north saanich is 10.4%.

The cost per capita seems in line with Saanich.

[Victoria Watcher]

The cost per capita seems in line with Saanich.

 

that's a pretty low bar to shoot for.  

 

 

https://www150.statc...191003a-eng.htm

[Mike K.]

VicPD has launched a new strategic plan.

 

‘A Safer Community Together’: VicPD Launches New Strategic Plan

 

Victoria, BC –Based on extensive consultations with community groups, internal VicPD staff engagements, and public and business survey data, the Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board and the Victoria Police Department are launching a new roadmap today that charts a course for VicPD over the next five years: VicPD Strategic Plan 2020-2024. 

 

The plan, which can be found here: https://vicpd.ca/abo...strategic-plan/ features these highlights:

 

Vision: A Safer Community Together

Mission: Deliver excellence in public safety for two diverse communities through engagement, innovative policing, and the Framework Agreement

Goals:

1) Support Community Safety

2) Enhance Public Trust

3) Achieve Organizational Excellence

Values: Integrity, Accountability, Collaboration, Innovation 

 

To connect with citizens about the new plan and to highlight progress toward the main goals, VicPD is also launching a new interactive Community Dashboard: This dashboard shares data and other information about our work and, through this proactive and interactive sharing of information, it is hoped that citizens can learn more about VicPD and how we currently deliver policing services, while perhaps starting conversations about additional opportunities and challenges that deserve greater attention.

 

“The Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board is proud of this innovative new strategic plan,” said Board lead co-chair and Mayor of Esquimalt Barbara Desjardins.  “The main strength of the plan is that it is built on engagement with the community, input from across the department, as well as the Framework Agreement that governs the delivery of policing services to the communities of Victoria and Esquimalt.”

 

“The new Community Dashboard associated with this strategic plan is ground-breaking,” said Board co-chair and Mayor of Victoria Lisa Helps said.  “Having a way to view relevant data and measure progress is key to the ongoing success of this plan and will help citizens learn more about their police department along the way.”

 

“This plan is the culmination of months of hard work by key VicPD staff, our Board, and the entire VicPD Senior Leadership Team,” said Chief Constable Del Manak.  “But most importantly, it is built on a foundation of extensive community engagement, which means that the plan that guides us over the next five years is truly and directly informed by the communities that we serve.”

[Spy Black]

It sounds like a great deal of time and resources were spent on a project designed to create positive optics for the Victoria Police Department, rather than fulfil any sort of mission designed to aggressively pursue efforts to minimize theft, property crime, open drug dealing and consumption, and any number of other maladies currently affecting Victoria's downtown core.

That the time, resources, and money could (and should?) have been focused 100% on actual hands-on crime reduction in the bike theft capital of Canada probably goes without saying.

 

• Is a study and strategic plan really necessary in order to make clear that the Victoria Police Department should respond to the wants and needs of the community?
• That the community doesn't want it's bicycle stolen 5 minutes after they ride it downtown is not already clearly understood?
• That the community doesn't want people taking a dump and/or camping in their business doorway isn't already clear to the Victoria PD?
• That the dangerous slums created and perpetuated by the COV on Johnson and Pandora Streets, as well as the "newer" slums around Douglas and Burnside have spiked crime in their associated areas wasn't anticipated and factored heavily into the decision to create them in the first place? That the Victoria PD does not have the taxpayers approval to abrogate their responsibility to enforce all relevant laws in these slums seems crystal clear to the citizenry, but requires a strategic plan on the part of the COV and VicPD?
• With a downtown core already in a serious decline Victoria Council and the Victoria PD don't understand that a Strategic Plan simply doesn't cut it?

 

It all seems so entirely disingenuous on the part of the COV Council and the Victoria Police Department.

I do wonder if they truly believe they can distract the taxpaying, voting citizens of Victoria with a "look over there" strategic plan - or more concerning would be to wonder if they're all actually so incompetent and unable to clearly understand the issues affecting Victoria that we simply have to accept the fact that there will be no actual solutions presented from this Council and/or Police Chief at any point during their current tenure on the public payroll?

[Victoria Watcher]

Victoria Police Chief Del Manak is seeking more officers to deal with a crime wave near Topaz Park where people without homes are staying in tents during the COVID-19 outbreak.

 

Manak has written to Victoria council asking for $52,500 to increase police presence in the nearby neighbourhoods and prevent crime.

 

https://www.timescol...park-1.24121992

 

 

 

 

i've found some extra money.

 

 

 

"The way the police departments are structured here in the Capital Regional District … you have one smaller police agency that is usually left to do the lion's share of the work when it comes to homelessness, mental health, street order issues," Manak told On the Island host Gregor Craigie.

Manak said extra challenges of policing in Victoria include a high concentration of liquor seats in clubs and bars, as well as three halfway houses for released prisoners.

 

https://www.cbc.ca/n...rease-1.4012616

 

 

 

 

 

move the money you used to spend on the high concentration of liquor seats in clubs and bars.  since that is at zero now.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 22 April 2020 - 12:59 PM.

[spanky123]

^ Never works that way. The ask is always for more, not to reallocate what is already there!

[rmpeers]

Honestly can't imagine what life must be like for cops patrolling Topaz, Pandora, etc. I say give them more money, can't wait to hear Ben's reaction.

[exc911ence]

They could always pull some officers off of traffic duty... they shouldn't be sticking their heads into stranger's car windows right now anyway.

[A Girl is No one]

Victoria Police Chief Del Manak is seeking more officers to deal with a crime wave near Topaz Park where people without homes are staying in tents during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Manak has written to Victoria council asking for $52,500 to increase police presence in the nearby neighbourhoods and prevent crime.

https://www.timescol...park-1.24121992




i've found some extra money.



"The way the police departments are structured here in the Capital Regional District … you have one smaller police agency that is usually left to do the lion's share of the work when it comes to homelessness, mental health, street order issues," Manak told On the Island host Gregor Craigie.
Manak said extra challenges of policing in Victoria include a high concentration of liquor seats in clubs and bars, as well as three halfway houses for released prisoners.

https://www.cbc.ca/n...rease-1.4012616





move the money you used to spend on the high concentration of liquor seats in clubs and bars. since that is at zero now.

I suspect the need for policing still exists downtown with Pandora in close proximity and many empty businesses.

[rmpeers]

Adam Stirling has made some good points about how Saanich/UVic activists appear to be conflating current US police issues with the situation in Victoria to score points.

I'm not aware of systemic racism in Victoria's policing, but I fear our council will lap this all up.

The game, I guess, is that they get to pose as freedom fighters, while enjoying the comforts of their privileged lifestyle here.