Winnipeg, MB - The Winnipeg Police Board (WPB) and Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) are working together to develop a new strategic plan. A series of community meetings are planned to help the WPB and WPS learn about community priorities that should be reflected in the plan.
“Crime prevention and community safety are important to all residents. We want to hear from the citizens and use their input to inform the development of the WPS Strategic Plan and our priorities for the next five years” says City Councillor Scott Fielding (Brooklands), Chair of the WPB.
The consultation process will provide background information about policing in Winnipeg, presentations from the Chair of the WPB and Chief Devon Clunis, Chief of the WPS as well as facilitated questions and discussions related to priorities and recommendations for policing in Winnipeg.
Public forums will be held in August in each of the four police districts, with a dedicated meeting for Aboriginal and Newcomer communities. Information on these meetings, ways to provide input and background about policing in Winnipeg is on the consultation website www.WPBconsults.ca.
Chief Clunis commented, “This is the first joint strategic planning session for the WPB and WPS. We are looking forward to citizen input about policing and crime prevention.”
WPB Chair Fielding added, “Our goal is to listen to residents and concerned citizens about what the priorities for policing should be. We are engaging directly with every district in the City of Winnipeg and with community organizations on issues which are specific to them. We encourage Winnipeggers to provide us with their thoughts in one of the public consultation sessions or via our website. We also welcome your comments and suggestions about the consultation process we are undertaking as it will be a process which is regularly conducted.”
Information on how the public can participate can be found on the WPB consultation website at: www.WPBconsults.ca.
About the Winnipeg Police Board:
The Winnipeg Police Board is the civilian body to which the Winnipeg Police Service is accountable. The Board is a statutory body required by the Police Services Act (PSA) and established by the City of Winnipeg Police Board Bylaw to oversee police services in the City of Winnipeg.
The legislated mandate of the Winnipeg Police Board is to provide civilian governance respecting the enforcement of law, the maintenance of the public peace and the prevention of crime in the City of Winnipeg, and to provide administrative direction to the Winnipeg Police Service.
The Board is also a liaison between the community and the Winnipeg Police Service. Annually, the Board shall conduct public consultations in locations throughout the City, to solicit community input on public safety issues and priorities. Part of the Board’s mandate is to ensure that the policies of the Winnipeg Police Service reflect the community’s needs, values, and expectations.
After a competitive bid process, the City of Winnipeg and Winnipeg Police Board selected MNP to independently moderate an open consultation process and to facilitate the development of the WPS Strategic Plan with the WPB and the WPS.