North Battleford announces increased patrols for downtown

The City of North Battleford is launching a multi-agency approach to address concerns about safety. 

The plan will include a patrol team of social agencies, community safety officers and RCMP members who will be dedicated to the city's downtown. 

Mayor Kelli Hawtin said the increased patrols will be focused on ensuring that everyone using the downtown area can function well together. 

"This isn't a project of just policing, which is one of the only tools a municipality has, but this is a project of connecting people to services that they may be needing in times of crisis or other times in their life," Hawtin said. 

The patrol team will be focused on connecting people who may be struggling with addiction and health issues in the area to the appropriate services. 

Hawtin said people in the downtown area are accessing services for a variety of different reasons that may cause safety issues. 

"We have people shopping and seeking entertainment in downtown areas; we have people accessing, you know, things like accountants, lawyers, banks — but we also have people that are accessing important social services," Hawtin said. 

The city is working to connect with health professionals and cultural community leaders to accompany police officers on foot patrols. 

Ryan How, detachment commander for the Battlefords RCMP, said complex solutions are needed, rather than just increased policing. 

"I think everybody's very aware that arresting and charging is not going to be the solution to this," said How. 

He said he hopes to increase safety for everyone in the area. 

"The goal here is to make the downtown a healthier place to be, a safer place to be for the community and make sure that the people who need help are getting access to it," he said. 

The new patrol team will also be using the crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) model to enhance safety for local business owners. The model is based on the theory that "the proper design and effective use of the built environment can lead to a reduction in the incidence and fear of crime, and an improvement in the quality of life," according to non-profit organization CPTED Canada.

The city expects the program to grow as more partner agencies come on board.