YOUR PERSPECTIVE: Creating safer communities

Further quick action was taken when on November 22 the directive, implemented by the Attorney General, directed the BC Prosecution Service to update its Bail Policy to help keep more repeat violent offenders off the streets, making it harder for them to continually reoffend.

In order to keep people as safe as possible, our government understands that we can’t merely rely on enforcement alone. By taking steps to support people with mental health and addiction challenges, we are helping with the root causes of people’s involvement in the justice system.

We are expanding mental-health crisis response teams into more communities so that people are supported early on by health-care workers and community members, and in turn the police can focus on crime.

Another way we’re working to address the system at its roots is by continuing to expand addictions care by opening a new model of care so that people don’t go straight from crisis back onto the streets, but instead receive the necessary treatment options.

We know that Indigenous people are overrepresented in the justice system, and with a partnership with the BC First Nations Justice Council, we are focusing on culturally appropriate supports through 10 new Indigenous Justice Centres.

Last week, we announced our initiative to hire more RCMP officers, fill vacancies, strengthen specialized units and enhance public safety which will benefit communities both rural and urban, including Maple Ridge and Mission, over the next few years.

Together, with our government’s most recent announcements around healthcare, housing, mental health services and childcare, British Columbians will be able to live in a safer province.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of Fraser Valley Today or Pattison Media.

by Bob D’Eith, MLA for Maple Ridge-Mission

YOUR PERSPECTIVE: Creating safer communities

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