Watch above: A new centre of responsibility and HUB are being established in Saskatoon to deal with crime from the bottom up. Wendy Winiewski tells us the community is encouraged to get to the root cause of crime in an effort to diminish its existence.
SASKATOON – What is more effective? Spending millions catching, prosecuting and housing offenders or investigating within communities to stop crime at its source? The launch of a new program Friday suggests the latter and officials believe this could make a significant difference in Saskatoon.
The program is used in Prince Albert. The city holds approximately 35,000 people in central Saskatchewan and is home of some of Canada’s worst crime rates in 2008.
“Despite our best efforts, we were losing the game. Arrests were through the roof and quite frankly had we stayed on that course, the municipality wouldn’t have been able to afford policing under traditional methods,” said Ken Hunter, Prince Albert community mobilization CEO.
Thinking outside the box, the HUB was launched four years ago, providing immediate assistance to people in crisis. Followed by the Centre of Responsibility (COR) analyzing crime to get to the root of it and stop it before the crisis point.
“So is it truancy that’s driving things? Then what should we do with education? Is it homelessness? What can we do about homelessness? Is it substance abuse/drug abuse? What can we do about that? These are long term solutions we need to find some answers for,” said Saskatoon police Chief Clive Weighill.
The Saskatoon Police Service followed the lead of Prince Albert, launching the HUB in April and the COR Friday.
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“On behalf of the ministry of corrections and policing, I am pleased to announce today $475,000 in annual funding,” said Christine Tell, minister responsible for corrections and policing.
If money translates to real results, Saskatonians have a lot to look forward to.
Since launching in Prince Albert four years ago, violent crimes like homicides, assaults and armed robberies have decreased by nearly 40 per cent. Overall crime has fallen by nearly 20 per cent and the number of youth arrested has dropped by a quarter.
“A teen parent who wants to get to school but they don’t have a way for them and their child to get to school. The COR worked as a team to find a way for the teen and that child to get to school,” Dr. Chad Nilson, Prince Albert COR evaluator.
A simple solution that may have been a pivotal moment redirecting the course of someone’s life.
Upwards of 10 communities in Saskatchewan will have a HUB and COR program in the coming months.
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