Halifax government departments have roles to play in improving public safety, according to a municipal strategy currently being developed.
“It gives a broad picture of what I think we need to address from a big picture. How we get there is going to be the important step,” Ted Upshaw, public safety advisor for the municipality, said.
He presented the Public Safety Strategy during a Monday afternoon meeting of the Halifax Board of Police Commissioners.
The strategy is meant to paint a picture of the causes of crime, and help different departments understand how each is helping contribute to public safety and what they can do to improve.
“We can’t arrest ourselves out of problems. We have to deal with a lot of the root causes of the social determinants of crime, and a lot of that has to do with poverty,” Halifax Regional Police Chief Jean-Michel Blais, a member of the board, said.
“It’s not a simple problem that’s going to be solved simply.”
The priorities and objectives listed in the presentation (PDF) are to build resident resilience, ensure safe spaces, strength communities, and prevent and reduce crime.
Upshaw said Halifax’s parks and recreation department, for example, helps with parenting skills, among other things.
“I think that when you’re looking at people more physically fit and active, then that means they’re thinking of other things than just being idle,” he said.
Another example is the transit pass program for people with low incomes. There could be a role for the municipality to help kids who’ve been expelled from school, Upshaw added.
A presentation of the plan to Halifax Regional Council is scheduled to be made on Oct. 31.