GILLINGHAM: POLICE MUST SHIFT FOCUS TO CRIME PREVENTION
Former Police Board Chair says Police Service can be more effective with change in strategy
Today, mayoral candidate Scott Gillingham outlined his 10-point agenda to shift policing strategy in
Winnipeg to focus on crime prevention, and to work with a broad scope of government and
community partners to achieve crime reduction goals. The proposal builds on his promise yesterday
to serve on the Police Board as Mayor.
Gillingham noted that in the last few years alone, the Police Service has withdrawn from a joint RCMPWinnipeg warrant unit and a joint RCMP organized crime unit, while winding down its data-based
Smart Policing Initiative and deploying detectives on a more reactive, centralized model.
“These steps are a sign that Winnipeg may have moved too far away from a focus on preventing
crimes ‘upstream,’ as police veterans have put it to me,” Gillingham said. “We need a citywide shift
back to a more proactive crime prevention approach. Some of that will come from social and
community policies, but smarter policing has a critical role to play.”
Key points of Gillingham’s proposal include:
• Development of a Crime Prevention and Community Safety Plan, combining civilian and
police initiatives, measuring success based on results achieved, not actions taken.
• Accelerating projects to re-task wellness / non-emergency calls to civilian responders to free
up general patrol officers.
• Supporting community safety partnerships and initiatives, and backing provincial proposals
to create a Peace Officer program.
• Greater public accountability for data, budgets and spending - including a proposal to require
Police Board approval before the Chief can apply for provincial Proceeds-of-Crime funds “to
ensure applications are consistent with approved strategic plans.”
“I do not support defunding the police,” Gillingham added. “But I am also not making any significant
commitment of new resources so we can focus on improving results with the resources we already
have in place.” Over the seven budgets Gillingham delivered as City Council’s Finance Chair from 2016
to 2022, police operating spending increases were held close to inflation.
For more information: Colin Fast 204-803-6406 / media@voteforscott.ca
