March 5, 2004 A brief history of crime prevention

One source pegs the cost of crime in Canada – including the police, the courts and the correctional system at about 60 billion a year.  If crime can be prevented the potential criminals, the victims and the police, courts and correctional system benefit.  A lot of effort ranging from the grassroots in communities to the Federal Government is now being invested in prevention. 

For generations the main focus on crime prevention was on deterrence and deterrence is still a major thrust today.  Police presence, surveillance, technology, publication of court cases etc. are geared to making criminals afraid of committing crime.  There is also another growing approach to crime prevention. 

One of the Rural Watch Crime Prevention signs seen throughout several rural communities around North Bay.

Since the 1980’s considerable effort has been put into this new approach often called the “proactive social development approach”.  The Federal Government has developed a National Crime Prevention Strategy, administered by the Department of Justice and the Ministry of Solicitor General of Canada.  Based on this approach the policy promotes a strong new emphasis on dealing with grassroots problems that often lead to crime – poverty, unemployment, drugs, lack of education, etc. etc. 

The government is putting millions into finding ways to change social conditions that cause people to commit crime. 

Community Policing 

One example of this change is having police across Canada balance their deterrence and detection approach with a move toward involving people and agencies in the community to correct some of the root causes of crime.  This approach is called community policing.  In some cases it means placing more police officers on the street, storefront accessibility, community officers who visit schools etc.  Another aspect of this approach is the development of community based committees that work with the police and take a proactive approach to identifying and acting on causes of crime. 

Community Policing Committees 

In the N.E. Region of the OPP there are some 40 Community Policing Committees (CPC) and across Ontario and Canada there are dozens more.  These CPCs vary in their structure and approach with some only dealing in a reactive way with one issue at a time such as vandalism and trying to stop it.  Most are more proactive emphasizing education and intervention to prevent the crime from happening. 

Chisholm Community Policing Committee 

As a member of the decade-long award winning Chisholm Community Policing Committee in Chisholm Township I can give an example of a progressive CPC.  The Chisholm CPC was initiated when the OPP approached Chisholm Council in 1993 and explained what community policing is.  The council supported the idea and appointed a committee to write a constitution and develop a program.  The model that was developed included community members at large with an interest in prevention.  One of the keys to the committee’s success was the decision to include a voting liaison member from the OPP and one from Council.  The OPP and Council members bring concerns and information from their jurisdictions and report back keeping the partnership active.  Over the years a core group including a representative from the Fire Department, and others have met regularly to exercise their mandate. 

Chisholm CPC Activities 

The Chisholm CPC has carried out numerous workshops on a variety of topics and has had fund-raisers to support their activity.  The Council Chambers were established as a satellite OPP office and all the regular CPC meetings take place there.  The CPC was involved in bringing in 911 service and the necessary road names and signage.  They established a centrally located Township Directory with a large Township map with the new road names and signs advertising various community businesses.  The business space rentals support the work of the committee.  Several other communities have developed directories modeled on the Chisholm design.  The CPC has regular speakers on crime prevention activities and issues specifically identified are discussed and acted upon by the partners. 

Rural Watch 

To extend the influence and effectiveness of the Chisholm CPC a model was developed that has some of the characteristics of the familiar Neighbourhood Watch/Block Parent models.  The township was divided into sections with an Area Representative in each area.  Signage was provided for some 50 Rural Watch members including the Area Representatives.  These members became the eyes and ears of the community reporting concerns to the CPC for action.  Several other CPCs including Bonfield, East Ferris and Redbridge have adopted the model including the signage. 

Federal Opportunities 

As mentioned above the Federal Government has a community based Crime Prevention Strategy.  One section of the strategy is the Crime Prevention Mobilization Strategy where funding is available for initiatives that develop knowledge, skills and resources to deal with grassroots causes of crime.   

Chisholm CPC is currently applying for a grant to bring together CPC members and other stakeholders to meet and learn about ways to have an impact on their communities across the North East Region of the OPP. 

The object is to have people return to their communities with a means of identifying and responding to the social needs of their communities on a sustainable ongoing basis.  A proposed Crime Prevention Website with current information is part of the ongoing aspect of the proposal.  The Chisholm CPC is well on its way toward selecting a site and program for the conference which will take place when funding is provided.  For further information on any of the activities above contact Larry Ellery, Chair, Chisholm Community CPC 724-6192, Doug Mackey, Conference Planning Committee Chair, 724-6882 or Staff Sergeant Irving Sloss, Unit Commander, Community Policing, North East Region OPP, 495-3878.