The message from Community Safety Co-ordinator Herb Sutton to city council this week was not to lose heart in the wake of crime statistics delivered by Insp. John Sutherland last week.
Sutton says in spite of the numbers taking a turn in the wrong direction many initiatives are continuing and progress is being made.
That is heartening, because it is pretty difficult to ignore some of the more sensational stories we’ve been following this year. The RCMP have faced far too many dangerous situations involving irrational and often intoxicated people, making threats and potentially harming themselves or others.
It is a testament to their skill and solid procedures that these incidents have been resolved without anyone, citizens or officers, being injured. Our hats off to them. They deserve our continued support in working to keep the community safe.
One of the initiatives mentioned in Sutton’s report is a move to gauge interest in an addictions treatment court in North Battleford.
The Canadian Association of Drug Treatment Court Professionals gives this definition of drug treatment court: “Drug treatment courts have the responsibility to handle cases involving drug-using offenders through a system involving comprehensive supervision, mandatory drug testing, treatment services (and other therapeutic interventions) and immediate sanctions and incentives.
“The objective of drug treatment courts is to reduce substance abuse, crime and recidivism through the rehabilitation of persons who commit crimes to support their substance dependency."
Every time I post an RCMP daily report there will be a reference to a complaint about an intoxicated person causing problems. Almost invariably that person is under a prohibition against consuming alcohol and ends up back in court with new charges. I’d call it a safe bet some of those incidents involve the same people over and over again.
Obviously there is a need for this type of court here and it is hoped the community safety co-ordinator will be successful in his bid to introduce the system.
