Brantford Community Safety and Crime Prevention Task Force. Environmental Scan

Transcription

1 Brantford Community Safety and Crime Prevention Task Force Environmental Scan

2 Brantford Community Safety and Crime Prevention Task Force ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN Prepared by December, 2011

3 Emerging Areas for Action 1. Provide continuous support to vulnerable and at risk groups throughout the life cycle. Continue to fund and support community development initiatives. Enhance the capacity of community-based non-government organizations to deliver programs. Continue to monitor and share the lessons learned from the Steps to Success Program. Develop a better understanding of program accessibility barriers for selected sectors (e.g. seniors, single parent families, developmentally challenged, etc.), and implement ways to overcome them. Support skills training programs. 2. Increase the level of community engagement and community ownership of problems. Strengthen the Neighbourhood Alliance and support the formation of additional neighbourhood organizations and neighbourhood events. Promote the further integration of the Laurier Brantford community into the downtown and take additional steps to create a downtown sense of community. Support further partnerships between the City and the post-secondary sector (Laurier and Nippissing) in order to continue with the vision and bring additional revenue into the city. Undertake additional actions to celebrate diversity and promote inclusiveness and mutual understanding urban aboriginal population, LGBT community, newcomers, etc. Create a community hub in the downtown core (12 Market Street?) where people in need of assistance and community mentors/volunteers can engage and collaborate with each other. Create new ways to involve the business community in community- building. 3. Build relationships with youth. Promote the establishment of a new downtown YMCA and sports complex. i

4 4. Educate the community about available community resources. Foster a network of collaborative groups (e.g. committees, coalitions) that will help to nurture partnerships, build community awareness and sustain positive changes: a critical mass of like-minded people committed to social change and the flexible/ reciprocal use of resources. Continue to foster facility and resource-sharing among agencies. 5. Increase youth centred programs. Develop collaborative programs that address the needs of at-risk and vulnerable youth in high needs neighbourhoods of the city. Support high school retention/completion initiatives. 6. Increase the availability of drug treatment and addiction services. Support efforts to open a detox/rehabilitation facility in Brantford. 7. Other Action Areas Review/develop new residential planning guidelines aimed at fostering neighbourhood safety and community-building ii

5 Table of Contents Emerging Areas for Action... i Introduction...1 Review of the Work of the Task Force...1 Background...1 Key Symposium Results...2 Strategies for Reducing and Preventing Crime...3 Trends Affecting Vulnerable Populations...5 Crime and Victimization National Trends...6 Crime, Victimization, and Perceptions of Crime and Safety...6 Reported Crime...8 Crime Trends in Canada...9 Youth Crime...11 Approaches to Crime Prevention and Community Safety...12 Overview...12 Crime and Perception of Crime in Brantford...16 Crime Trends in Brantford Youth Crime in Brantford Perceptions of Crime and Safety in Brantford...19 Summary of Findings...28 Crime Prevention Programs in Brantford/Brant County...29 Innovative Community Programs in Brantford Sources...35 Table 1: Community Safety: Issues and Priorities...2 Table 2: Crime Trends in Canada, Table 3: An Integrated Community Safety and Crime Prevention (CSCP) Framework...14 Table 4: Crime Trends, Brantford and Selected Comparators...17 Table 5: Police-Reported Youth Crime Rate...18 Table 6: Community Safety Challenges, Opportunities and Potential Future Directions.19 Table 7: Top Priorities...27 Figure 1: Persons Accused of Crime, by Age, iii

6 Introduction Crime and community safety are multifaceted phenomena that require comprehensive and coordinated responses. Often the municipal level or the level closest to the people is in the best strategic position from which to address crime and safety issues. Increasingly, crime prevention and community safety are seen as responsibilities not only of key service providers in communities but also of the community members themselves. Effective crime and safety strategies need to be placed into context and defined strategically alongside comparative information and data. The Environmental Scan outlines trends that may have an impact on community safety and crime prevention in Brantford. These include trends in areas such as population, income and employment, housing and emergency shelter, mental health and addictions, aboriginal issues, crime, youth crime, victimization, police services, and social service delivery, as well as approaches to crime prevention/ community safety. Review of the Work of the Task Force Background The City of Brantford Community Safety and Crime Prevention Task Force is continuing the work that emerged from a 2008 symposium on community safety and crime. The symposium had its genesis in a series of violent crimes involving weapons that had occurred the previous year. The Thinking Outside the Lines Community Safety, Crime and Weapons Offences symposium was intended to initiate a community action plan to promote community safety and address the growing concerns about crime. 1 That event focused on defining issues and identifying actions that would be achievable within the sphere of responsibility of local government, community agencies and the individual citizen. Dr. Irvin Waller, a criminologist and crime prevention specialist with the University of Ottawa and the Institute for the Prevention of Crime, was the keynote speaker. The June 20th event drew a large number of participants from neighbourhood associations, community support agencies, law enforcement, academia, Provincial ministries and municipal government. 1 Thinking Outside the Lines Symposium Report to Brantford City Council, Summer

7 Key Symposium Results A clear message emerged from the symposium that reflected Professor Waller s theme of Less Law, More Order : ensuring a safe community requires the coordinated efforts of all sectors of the community. Participants were asked to identify the principal crime and safety issues facing the Brantford community. Seven issues emerged as shown in Table x. These are compared with the seven areas which the World Health Organization recommends should be the focus of intervention and prevention practices aimed at promoting community safety. The two approaches reflect common themes with the exception of Community Growth and Insufficient Resources, which were identified as particular issues for Brantford. Table 1: Community Safety: Issues and Priorities Thinking Outside the Lines Issues Brantford Community Symposium 2008 Criminal Activity - Escalating drug and alcohol abuse leading to crime - Shift to more dangerous drugs - Theft - Street crime (drugs, prostitution, theft, break ins) - Property crime Home and Family - Child and elder abuse no mechanism for reporting - Domestic violence World Health Organization 2 Priorities for Action Reducing the access to guns, knives and pesticides Safe, stable and nurturing relationships between children and their parents and caregivers Impact of Community Growth - Influx of people into Brantford resulting in drain on resources - Outside influences Community Values - Apathy in community - Root causes: examples home life, societal values, role of schools in prevention (or not) - Lack of involvement/engagement of community leading to a lack of ownership of the problem Reducing the access to guns, knives and pesticides Victim identification, care and support programs. 2 In Government of Saskatchewan, Building Partnerships to Reduce Crime, September,

8 Thinking Outside the Lines Issues Brantford Community Symposium 2008 Societal Influences - Hate crimes - Promotion of hatred - Discrimination/native issues, e.g. unresolved land claims - Desensitization to violence through media - Loss of respect for self and others in this generation World Health Organization 2 Priorities for Action Reducing the availability and harmful use of alcohol Promoting general equality to prevent violence against women Changing cultural and social norms that support violence Insufficient Resources - No local detox centre - Resources: costs, accessibility, implications of high rate of remands - Low staffing levels result in mainly reactive rather than proactive responses by agencies Youth Centric Issues - Lack of youth engagement with school leading to high drop out rates - Youth crime need for parenting programs - Desensitization of youth to violence escalation of serious assaults and crimes with weapons - Lack of programs for youth Enhancing life skills in children and youth Strategies for Reducing and Preventing Crime Two examples of proven strategies for reducing crime that were presented at the symposium are both youth-focused. They are: 1. Promote high school completion/prevent school drop out in disadvantaged teens. Suggested complementary/ancillary activities discussed in the symposium include: After school activities with mentoring Tutoring, computer skills training, event planning, volunteering, college/ employment planning, etc. Small remuneration for participation (~$1/hr) Match money earned towards college fund 2. Develop youth inclusion programs Examples include: 3

9 Identify 50 most at-risk youth (13-16 years old) living in high-crime neighbourhoods and provide them with 5 or more hours per week of positive programming Mentoring, sports and recreation, skills training in literacy, anger management, dealing with gangs and drugs, etc. The improvement of parenting skills is another family/youth strategy that has been recognized as an effective deterrent to dropping out of school and youth involvement with crime. In terms of cost effectiveness, program evaluations have demonstrated that programs to reduce school drop-out rates and improve parenting skills are much less costly than the additional investment in probation and incarceration that would be required to achieve a similar reduction in crime. A number of other recommended focus areas for community safety and crime prevention were identified in the symposium. These are: 1. Prevention of violence against women by investing in promising strategies and evaluating outcomes. 2. Targeted reduction in break-ins through the active participation of residents. 3. Leveraging the unique Capacity of Cities through the joint work of schools, local government and policing to tackle multiple causes. 4. Targeted reduction in youth murders through Smart (evidence-based) Policing combined with Smart Prevention. 5. Multi-sector governance to tackle multiple risk factors; for example, the creation of a city-wide Crime Prevention Planning Office. 6. Justice and support for victims of crime. 7. Reductions in victimization in targeted areas over a two to four year time period with broader reductions over a ten year period. 4

10 Trends Affecting Vulnerable Populations Vulnerable populations are "those individuals or groups who have a greater probability than the population as a whole of being harmed and experiencing an impaired quality of life because of social, environmental, health, or economic conditions or policies. 3 Some researchers view the condition of vulnerability as a set of characteristics or circumstances which predispose an individual to manifest problems in adaptation. Others differentiate risk factors from vulnerability by associating risk with environmental influences and associating vulnerability with the child. 4 At-risk populations are those individuals who are exposed to multiple risk factors that increase the likelihood that they will commit delinquent or criminal acts (Wilson, 2000 cited in NCPC, 2011). Other definitions of risk include the higher probability of having negative developmental outcomes as well as difficulties in social adaptation, academic success, and mental health. The populations considered to be the most vulnerable in the City of Brantford are: 5 Children Youth Single/lone parent households Seniors Immigrants Aboriginal people Persons with addictions Persons with disabilities Persons with special health needs e.g.: HIV Homeless persons Persons with mental health issues Based on longitudinal studies of youth crime, the 2008 symposium identified eight risk factors that may be considered the principal root causes of chronic youth offending. Born into a family in relative poverty and inadequate housing Presenting behavioural problems in primary school Brought up with inconsistent and uncaring parenting A witness of intra-familial violence Limited social and cognitive abilities Excluded from, or dropping-out of, school Frequently unemployed and with relatively limited income Living with a culture of violence on television and in the neighbourhood 3 This definition is an adaptation of definitions used by Barker 1995 and Rothman Trudel and Puentes-Neuman, 2001 cited in NCPC, Based on information contained in Brant s Response Against Violence Everywhere (BRAVE) Environmental Scan Final Report (2007) and the Brant-Brantford Affordable Housing Strategy: Housing Demand and Supply Analysis Report (2010). 5

11 The possibilities for influencing these risk factors at the local level vary with each factor. For example, community action to reduce exposure to violence on television may be less feasible compared to community-level efforts to reduce school drop-out and exclusion rates. Crime and Victimization National Trends 6 Crime, Victimization and Perceptions of Crime and Safety 7 Information on crime in Canada is collected by Statistics Canada through two different but complementary surveys. One is the annual Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) survey, which collects data on all criminal incidents known to and substantiated by Canadian police services. The second is the General Social Survey (GSS), which is conducted every five years on a sample of Canadians. The General Social Survey measures, among other things, victimization in Canada and perceptions about crime and feelings of personal safety. The most recent GSS was conducted in What are the characteristics of crime in Canada? The total rate of police reported crime in Canada has declined since peaking in the early 1990s. The 2010 crime rate was the lowest recorded since Despite the decline over nearly four decades, crime levels are between 1.5 and four times higher today than they were at the beginning of the 1960s, depending on the type of crime. Violent crime has decreased in volume but increased as a proportion of total reported crime, from 8% in 1962 to 12.6% in 2003 and 15% in How do crime trends affect Canadian cities? Crime rates vary considerably between cities. City size does not explain crime differences between cities. It is important to understand the situation of each municipality when analyzing crime trends. 6 Information on crime in Canada is collected by Statistics Canada via two different though complementary surveys: the General Social Survey (GSS) on Victimization (conducted every five years, most recently 2009) and the annual Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) survey (based on crime reported to the police). 7 Based in part on information contained in the crime prevention toolkit by Foundation Docteur Philippe-Pinel (2004). 6

12 Which crimes are the least often reported to police? A large number of crimes are never reported to police and, overall, reporting rates are on the decline. Reporting rates may increase over time for those offence types that receive additional public attention and resources. In 2009, 69% of crimes experienced by Canadians were not reported, a slight increase over the 66% of crimes not reported in Break-ins and motor vehicle theft are the offences most often reported to police, about 50% of the time. Taking into account longer term trends, the following offences continued to be among the least reported crimes, with non-reporting rates higher in 2009 compared to 10 years earlier: Sexual assault (78% not reported in 1999, 88% in 2009) Theft of household goods (67% not reported in 1999, 77% in 2009) Vandalism (64% not reported in 1999, 65% in 2009) Theft of personal property (63% not reported in 1999, 72% in 2009) Assault (61% not reported in 1999, 66% in 2009) How safe do Canadians feel? 8 The vast majority (93%) of Canadians aged 15 and older surveyed in 2009 were satisfied with their personal safety from crime, a proportion similar to 2004 (94%). Despite higher rates of victimization, younger Canadians are more satisfied with their personal safety from crime than older Canadians. In 2009, 94% of Canadians aged 15 to 24 said they felt very or somewhat satisfied with their personal safety from crime, compared to 90% of Canadians aged 65 or older. Most Canadians feel safe in their neighbourhoods at night. Over 8 in 10 Canadians said that they were not at all worried when home alone in the evening (83%), and 90% said they felt safe when walking alone in their neighbourhood at night. Women experience a greater sense of insecurity than men. Most Canadian feel that the amount of crime in their neighbourhood was the same (62%) or had increased (26%) compared to 5 years earlier. 8 Excludes residents of Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, who were surveyed separately. 7

13 Who is most at risk of being victimized? Rates of violent and household victimization have remained stable. The rate of victimization through personal property theft increased 16% over the past five years. The 15 to 24 year age group runs a higher risk of victimization. Risk is greater for those who go out more frequently in the evenings. Rates of victimization are higher in urban than in rural areas. Those who rent their dwelling are more likely to be the victim of a break-in compared to homeowners. Households whose residents had lived in their home for less than six months were more than twice as likely to report a break-in compared to those who had been living in their home for at least ten years. Alcohol consumption by victims is associated with elevated rates of overall violent victimization. Self-reported rates of physical assault were almost three times higher for people who had consumed 5 or more alcoholic beverages in one sitting in the past month than they were for those who drank less or not at all. Moreover, people who used drugs every day were almost 8 times more likely to report being physically assaulted than those who had never used drugs. Reported Crime Crime statistics in Canada are based on criminal offences that are reported to or by the police. The crime rate (number of reported criminal offences per 100,000 population) controls for changes in crime that may result primarily from population growth or decline, and has served as the official measure of crime in Canada since Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) was introduced in Historically, crime rates have been highest in western Canada, lower in central Canada (Ontario and Quebec), and lowest in the eastern provinces. Within provinces, there is considerable variation in crime rates among municipalities. For example, the Ontario municipalities of Thunder Bay, Brantford, Peterborough and Guelph all have populations in the range of 125,000 to 140,000 9, but there is considerable variation in their overall crime rates: the recorded rates were 8,713, 7,226, 4,864 and 4,241 per 100,000 respectively in Toronto, Canada s largest municipality, had the lowest crime rate of all 32 of the census metropolitan areas in 2010, at 3,563 offences per 100,000 population. Crime is therefore a function of a range of factors other than 9 Populations are based on the census metropolitan area (CMA) as defined by Statistics Canada. 8

14 population size, which is a strong rationale for developing crime prevention and reduction plans that are tailored to local needs. 10 Crime Trends in Canada 11 Police-reported crime statistics are influenced by a number of factors. These include demographic shifts in the population, changes in social mores, and legislative changes that influence public attitudes towards crime as well as the rate at which crimes are reported to the police. For example, domestic/spousal violence is more likely to be reported to the police today than it was 20 years ago. Despite these issues, Statistics Canada s standardized, mandatory methods for tabulating crime provides a strong measure of confidence when comparing crime in Canada over time and across jurisdictions. Table 2: Crime Trends in Canada, (rate per 100,000 inhabitants) 12 Year Violent crime rate Property crime rate Other Criminal Code crime rate Total crime rate Crime Rate % of Total Crime Crime Rate % of Total Crime Crime Rate % of Total Crime Crime Rate % of Total Crime Crime Rate % of Total Crime % % 1, % % % 1, % 5, % 6, % 4, % 2, % % 2, % 3, % 2, % 2, % 2, % 8, % 10, % 7, % 5, % The total rate of reported crime in Canada has declined since peaking in the early 1990s. The 2010 crime rate was the lowest recorded since At the same time, the crime rates in all categories are between 1.5 and four times higher than they were at the beginning of the 1960s. Violent crime has decreased in volume but increased as a proportion of total reported crime (15.1% in 2010 compared to 12.6% in 2003 and 8.0% in 1962). Nevertheless, the severity of crime as measured by the Crime Severity Index (not shown) dropped to its lowest point since this measure was first reported in See for example the 2004 report of the Institut Philippe-Pinel de Montréal. 11 Statistics Canada, Police-reported crime statistics in Canada (2010) Statistics Canada, Police-reported crime statistics in Canada, (2010). 9

15 Following a period of relative stability over the past decade, the homicide rate (not shown) fell 10% in 2010 to 554 homicides per 100,000 population, marking the lowest homicide rate in Canada since Common assault (level 1), where little or no injury is caused to the victim, has been decreasing in Canada over the past decade. Serious assaults (level 2, with a weapon/cause bodily harm, and; level 3, where the victim is wounded, maimed or disfigured) decreased in 2010 for the third consecutive year following a 25-year upward trend. For the first time since 2005, police reported an increase in the rate of sexual assault, which rose by 5% between 2009 and The increase was primarily the result of an increase in level 1 sexual assaults (the least serious of the three categories of sexual assault), which account for 97% of all sexual assaults. 13 Property offences decreased in 2010 for the seventh consecutive year. The rate of break-ins has steadily declined after peaking in the 1990s. The majority of break-ins are residential (61% in 2010) followed by commercial (28%) and institutional (11%) break-ins. While the overall crime rate in Canada is decreasing, the drug offence rate increased in 2010 by 10%, continuing a trend that began in the early 1990s. 14 The overall increase was driven by cannabis offences, which account for just over half (52%) of all police-reported drug offences. Cocaine offences decreased for the third consecutive year. Research suggests that increases in drug crime rates may be influenced by police practices that focus increased efforts on this type of offence when time, resources and priorities permit. 15 To summarize, Statistics Canada (2011) indicates that The downward trend in police-reported crime continued in 2010 with decreases reported across [most of] the country Canada s crime rate was at its lowest point since the early 1970s while the severity of crime was at its lowest point since 1998 Police reported decreases across most crime categories, with few exceptions. The homicide rate, considered to be a country s barometer of violence, was at its lowest point since the mid-1960s. Youth crime [see section 6] also fell in both volume and severity. The finding that only a slightly larger proportion of crimes were not reported to police in 2009 (69%) compared to 2004 (66%) suggests that, overall, the crime rate is indeed decreasing. 13 This is in spite of a decrease in reporting rates for sexual assault, according to the 2009 Victimization Survey. Taken together, these findings suggest that sexual assault is on the rise in Canada. 14 Drug crimes fall under the authority of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and include possession, trafficking, importing, exporting and production-related offences. 15 Dauvergne, 2009 cited in Statistics Canada (2011). 10

16 Youth Crime In Canada, separate justice systems exist for youth aged 12 to 17 years and for adults (18+ years) accused of crime. Crimes are disproportionately committed by youth and young adults. In 2010, the rate of those accused of a Criminal Code offence peaked at 18 years of age and then declined with increasing age. Figure 1: Persons Accused of Crime, by Age, 2010 Source: Statistics Canada, Police-reported crime statistics in Canada, In past years, the number of youth charged by police outnumbered those who were dealt with through other measures, such as through the use of warnings, cautions and referrals to community programs. However, this trend began to shift in 2003 with the implementation of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The Act introduced the more extensive use of informal ( extrajudicial ) measures as alternatives to formally charging youth with crime (Statistics Canada, 2010). In 2010, 42% of youth accused were formally charged by police while the remaining 58% were diverted by other means. Statistics Canada notes that similar to the trend in overall crime, the rate of crime committed by youth has been generally declining over the past decade. 16 Includes persons formally charged by police or recommended for charging, as well as those dealt with by other means (e.g. diversion programs). 11

17 Approaches to Crime Prevention and Community Safety Overview The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and the Ontario Police College define Crime Prevention as: The anticipation, recognition and appraisal of a crime risk and the actions taken including the integrated community leadership required to remove or reduce it (cited in Cotton 2011). Canada s National Crime Prevention Centre (NCPC) uses a different but complementary definition of crime prevention: Strategies and measures that seek to intervene on and modify identified risk factors in order to reduce the likelihood that a criminal act will be committed (NCPC 2011). Ontario s recently adopted Mobilization and Engagement Model of Community Policing presents four stages for police involvement in improving community safety. It begins with a focus on enforcement and crime suppression in high need areas, followed by community mobilization and crime prevention, whereby the police initiate and/or support efforts to enhance social development and community wellbeing. The third stage is community safety and consultation, where the need for police presence is more limited but support is provided to further improve community safety. Finally, community engagement and liaison represents the ideal stage of community safety where public education, police-community liaison and targeted crime prevention help to maintain high levels of community capacity to resolve safety and security issues. Another way of approaching community safety is illustrated by the following classification of crime prevention initiatives (Foundation Docteur Philippe-Pinel, 2004): 1. Situational crime prevention. This approach focuses on reducing the opportunities for crime and increasing the risks for offenders through street lighting improvements, updated security systems, redesigned houses and walkways, etc. Problem-oriented policing, crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) and anti-graffiti campaigns are examples of how this approach is being applied in Canada. 12

18 2. Crime prevention through social development. This approach targets the groups most at risk of committing or being victimized by crime, and includes supports for child-raising, poverty reduction, and the inclusion of marginalized groups. Ontario s Better Beginnings-Better Futures program (implemented in 1991), which provides a range of social development programs for the families of young children in low income, high risk neighbourhoods, is an example of this approach Community crime prevention. This encompasses various approaches to improving the quality of life in neighbourhoods and local communities. Strategies include programs that increase local participation/interaction in the neighbourhood, promote pro-social behaviours, and may include mechanisms for resolving conflicts. Organizing neighbourhood groups and establishing skateboard parks for youth are examples of community crime prevention. The recently-released crime prevention strategy for Saskatchewan identifies three pillars to address the full spectrum of crime reduction. These are intervention; prevention, and; suppression (Government of Saskatchewan 2011). Other organizations (including NCPC and the Task Force) refer to these as primary, secondary and tertiary approaches to intervention, with victims representing a fourth intervention (remediation/victims assistance). The following provides a description of each of these interventions 18 : 1. Primary (Prevention): Information, public education, social supports and other activities engage individuals at risk of victimization or offending and reduce the potential for crime and disorder. NCPC (2011) uses a somewhat broader definition: programs designed for the general population that address broad-based socio-economic factors believed to be related to increased likelihood of later offending. For example, early child care, income distribution programs, and employment support programs. 2. Secondary (Intervention): Services such as substance abuse treatment, education and employment are used to change behaviour and the environment in a manner that mitigates the risk factors that lead to victimization and offending. Similarly, NCPC (2011) defines secondary crime prevention as programs or interventions designed to address the risk factors related to pathways to offending among 17 The Better Beginnings, Better Futures Project had its origin in the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services. The 1983 Ontario Child Health Study revealed that one in six children has an identifiable emotional or behavioural disorder. The report also identified that children living in families that received social assistance or who lived in subsidized housing were at greater risk for these problems. In 1989, The Better Beginnings, Better Futures model was accepted by the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services as the model with which to launch its longitudinal prevention policy research demonstration project. Eight communities were selected to participate in the project in 1991 (see 18 See Government of Saskatchewan, 2011, p

19 children and youth, or to address situations that may enhance crime in neighbourhoods. 3. Tertiary (Suppression): Uses the law to deter and control crime. This includes surveillance, arrests, prosecution and incarceration. This differs from NCPC s (2011) perspective on tertiary crime prevention, which focuses on strategies directed towards the prevention of criminal re-occurrence. This includes measures such as physical modification of repeatedly victimized buildings, offender rehabilitation programs, etc. 4. Victims (Support/Remediation): Provision of services to assist police, fire and other emergency services in providing emotional and practical assistance to victims of crime, tragic circumstances and disaster. 19 Building on all of these approaches, the following is provided as an integrated framework for guiding the work of the Task Force. Table 3: An Integrated Community Safety and Crime Prevention (CSCP) Framework Intervention Approach Focus Areas Sample Actions Sample Programs and Services, Brantford Family Resource Early learning Centres New Beginnings/ Best Start 1. Primary Prevention 2. Secondary Intervention 20 Policies, programs and initiatives designed to address broadbased socioeconomic factors that are believed to increase the likelihood of later offending. Programs or interventions designed to address i) the risk factors related to pathways to Parenting programs Job training Poverty reduction programs Affordable housing Youth recreational programs Communitybuilding Mental health and addiction services Alternative secondary school programs Arts After School Community Leadership Program (planned) Heart To Art Roots of Empathy Steps to Success Children s Safety Village Neighbourhood Alliance High School Resource Officers Pathways to Violence CPTED review of City development Incorporates community mobilization and crime prevention, community safety and consultation, and community engagement and liaison from Ontario s Mobilization and Engagement Model of Community Policing. 14

20 Intervention Approach Focus Areas Sample Actions Sample Programs and Services, Brantford offending among Crime prevention applications children, youth, through Brantford and adults; environmental Police/Laurier Special ii) situations that design (CPTED) Constable may facilitate Collaboration crime in neighbourhoods and public spaces. Police patrols 3. Crime Suppression 21 Legal actions to deter and control crime. This includes surveillance, arrests, prosecution and incarceration. Targeted surveillance Joint Police Task Forces Citizen reported information Police investigations Sentencing Brant Brantford Crime Stoppers Brantford Police/Laurier Special Constable Collaboration 4. Victim Support Services designed to assist police, fire and other emergency services in providing emotional and practical assistance to victims of crime, tragic circumstances and disaster. Trained victim support volunteers Police/Victim Services protocols Emergency housing Victim Services Brant 21 Incorporates enforcement and crime suppression from the Ontario Community Policing model. 15

21 Crime and Perceptions of Crime in Brantford Crime Trends in Brantford Statistics are provided for Brantford and the comparator jurisdictions of Thunder Bay (with demographic characteristics similar to Brantford) and Waterloo Region (geographically close to Brantford). Statistics for the province of Ontario which are largely influenced by crime trends in the Greater Toronto Area are also provided for comparison purposes. Calls for police service in Brantford are higher than in the comparator jurisdictions of Thunder Bay and Waterloo Region, increasing by an average of almost 4% each year over the past three years. At the same time, overall crime decreased in Brantford (-3.3%) at a higher rate than comparator jurisdictions between 2008 and The decrease was not as great as the decrease in the crime rate for all of Ontario (-4.3%). This provides that calls to police are related to many factors other than crime incidents; for example, lack of information about other community resources might be one of many contributing factors. The overall crime rate in Brantford is lower than Thunder Bay but higher than Waterloo Region. Due to the small number of offences, the homicide rate in Canadian jurisdictions is very volatile and may be affected by only one offence. The homicide rate for Brantford was similar to or lower than the provincial rate over the past three years. It was higher than the rate in Thunder Bay and Waterloo Region in some years, and lower in other years. The robbery rate increased in Brantford and the comparator jurisdictions, while declining in Ontario. Interestingly, Brantford s robbery rate is similar to Waterloo s and significantly lower than the rate for Thunder Bay and the province. The opposite is true for the major property offences of break and enter and motor vehicle theft. For most years, the rates are higher in Brantford compared to the other jurisdictions, though they have declined in recent years; in the case of Motor Vehicle Theft the decrease was nearly 20% over the past 3 years. 16

22 Table 4: Crime Trends 22, Brantford and Selected Comparators Avg. Annual % Change ( ) Population, City of Brantford 90,192 94,187 94,827 95,473 96, % Police Calls p/100,000 Brantford 50,437 48,063 48,855 57,165 52, % Population, City of Thunder Bay 116, , , , , % Police Calls p/ 100,000 Thunder Bay 24 47,563 47,247 45,064 45,189 43, % Population, Waterloo Region 516, , , , , % Police Calls p/ 100,000 Waterloo Regional 32,622 31,742 33,041 * * Police Total Crime Rate Brantford ** ** 7,744 7,842 7, % Thunder Bay 9,031 8,819 8,658 9,013 8, % Kit Waterloo Cambr. 5,315 4,906 5,174 5,465 4, % Ontario 5,689 5,228 4,877 4,704 4, % Homicide Rate Brantford ** ** % Thunder Bay Kit Waterloo Cambr % Ontario % Robbery Rate Brantford ** ** % Thunder Bay % Kit Waterloo Cambr % Ontario % Break and Enter Rate Brantford ** ** % Thunder Bay % Kit Waterloo Cambr % Ontario % Motor Vehicle Theft Brantford ** ** % Thunder Bay % Kit Waterloo Cambr % Ontario % * Waterloo implemented a new dispatch system at the end of 2008; statistics for subsequent years are not comparable. ** Brantford not yet included as a Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) by Statistics Canada. 22 Crime statistics are from Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, unless otherwise noted. (Police-reported crime by Census Metropolitan Area.) 23 Use of the rate per 100,000 controls for the effect of population growth or decline on the calls for police service Total refers to total Criminal Code offences excluding C.C. traffic offences. 26 All rates are per 100,000 population. 17

23 Youth Crime in Brantford The violent youth crime rate in Brantford declined marginally over the past three years. The province as a whole experienced a larger decrease over the same period. The most frequent violent crime committed by youth is level 1 (less serious) assault. In Brantford, the rate for this offence remained almost unchanged, while the rate for other violent offences increased over the past three years. Robbery is the only violent youth offence to show a substantial decrease over the longer term between 2005 and ,28, 29 Table 5: Police Reported Youth Crime Rate Avg. Annual % Change ( ) Violent Youth Crime Brantford 1,776 1,995 1,942 1,855 1,961 1, Violent Youth Crime Ontario 1,447 1,438 1,438 1,751 1,666 1, Brantford rates for selected violent crimes Sexual Assault (levels 1, 2 and 3) Assault (levels 2 and 3) Assault (level 1) Robbery Property Youth Crime Brantford 6,169 5,017 5,043 4,740 6,245 6, Property Youth Crime Ontario 2,393 2,445 2,449 3,804 2,939 2, Brantford rates for selected property crimes Break and enter Motor vehicle theft Total drugs The youth property crime rate in Brantford is substantially higher than the provincial rate, and has increased over the past three years compared to a province-wide decrease. 27 Statistics are from Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, unless otherwise noted. 28 Refers to the number of youth 12 to 17 years of age who were either charged or recommended for charging by police, or diverted from the formal criminal justice system through the use of warnings, cautions, referrals to community programs, etc. Rates are calculated on the basis of 100,000 youth population. 29 Youth crime rates for individual municipalities are not readily available. Therefore, rates for Thunder Bay and Waterloo are not shown in this table. 30 In 2008, Statistics Canada expanded the definition of violent crime to include a number of offences not previously included, such as uttering threats, criminal harassment, and forcible confinement. 18

24 A stable trend in break and enters in Brantford committed by youth in the past three years, and a decline in youth motor vehicle theft and drug offences, suggests that the youth property crime rate is driven mainly by other types of theft and property damage offences (for example, mischief/vandalism). Perceptions of Crime and Safety in Brantford A number of challenges and opportunities related to community safety in Brantford were identified by the community experts who were consulted. The following are the main issues identified by key informants. Table 6: Community Safety Challenges, Opportunities and Potential Future Directions in Brantford Challenges Opportunities Changes in the Downtown Core Perceived to be unsafe, especially at night. This includes aggressive behaviour, panhandling, fighting. St. Leonard s relocation from the downtown core may create a vacuum for people seeking information or assistance. Perception that some homeless/ marginalized people feel entitled to the downtown. Lack of police presence during the day compared to before (note: some respondents feel that the police presence has increased). Perceived delays in police response to calls for service downtown. Year round facilities and events have brought people and families back downtown again. Harmony Square has been very successful. Others successes include the ice rink, Brantford Arts Block; 31 Brantford Film Festival, library programs, etc. The programs are well advertised and the events are well attended by people of all socio economic strata. The City has been purposeful/proactive in planning events and programming that take place during the day, night and weekends, with high visibility. The City paid for the project and provides the leadership (City Event Co ordinator). Reported crime is down. Potential Future Directions: Create a community safety hub in the downtown core (12 Market Street?) where people in need of assistance and community mentors/volunteers can interact and collaborate with each other Promote the establishment of a new downtown YMCA and sports complex. 31 The Brantford Arts Block is a not-for-profit community arts organization with a vision to be a centre for creative activity in Brantford and surrounding communities. They aim to give local artists, of every age and skill level, the chance to showcase their works in an open and accessible venue. The Arts Block is an art gallery, a music venue, artist studios, a place to read poetry, and a multi-media resource. 19

25 Challenges Laurier Brantford Opportunities Laurier Brantford is a double edged sword ; change has resulted in the displacement of vulnerable individuals and families from the area to the outer edges and has made it more challenging for them to access the downtown services they rely on. Methadone clinic is downtown where students are located and can be a source of tension when students encounter a lineup of people accessing the clinic Tensions between students and homeless/ marginalized adults; student parties intensified feelings of exclusion among people who frequent the downtown; perception that homeless people are pushing back. Laurier has not become a community of inclusion yet not yet had the opportunity to become a good neighbour. Transformation of the downtown has been positive: people want to come downtown more. University has brought some life, energy, prosperity back to Brantford. Brantford downtown was a ghost town until recently, with many empty store fronts. Laurier Brantford has helped to change the face of the downtown, with the location of student residences. Brantford Police and Laurier Special Constable Service share an office downtown. Presence of Special Constables is increasingly evident. More people (university students, professor staff) in the downtown has brought attention to safety issues. Student councils and staff groups brought to light the discomfort, resulting in increased police presence and making the downtown feel safer. Potential Future Directions: Promote the further integration of the Laurier Brantford community into the downtown and take additional steps to create a downtown sense of community. Support further partnerships between the City and the post secondary sector (Laurier and Nippissing) in order to continue with the vision and bring additional revenue into the city. 20

26 Challenges Divisions in the Community Opportunities Cheaper housing in Brantford (relative to Hamilton and Toronto) means that more people are moving in and out of Brantford contributes to increase in drug abuse limited recreational opportunities for youth in high density subdivisions (e.g. West Branch); difficult for youth to get around large urban problems brought to smaller city setting problems like car break ins are concentrated in these areas more difficult to build community in neighbourhoods with a large number of houses Animosity between and stereotypes about affluent and less affluent communities (e.g. I m from the hood [Eagle Place]); Eagle Place is increasingly stigmatized as an area of social disorder and crime. Youth vandalism at Eagle Place has made some residents fearful. Evidence of territorial gang activity (e.g. graffiti to mark territory limits numbers on back of stop signs). Gang activity less evident to some, but evidence that youth become involved in car theft rings. Resistance to efforts to support the LGBT community persists. Need for people to become more neighbourly less likely to vandalize if they know each other. How can we foster community and create positive perceptions Limit/reduce the maximum number of homes in new subdivisions. Expand community programs to targeted high need neighbourhoods. Create new community/neighbourhood advisory groups. Promote the development of community champions/leaders who will advocate for their neighbourhood. Build [more] community centres. Additional City support/funding for neighbourhood associations. People in Brantford are using antioppression language more often. Elected officials and the community at large are recognizing divisions in the community and the need to respond. The City raised the Pride flag during the third week of June 2011 for the first time positive step. Supported by Mayor, Laurier Brantford Dean and other leaders. Grand River CHC is about to establish a Health Equity Committee to look at disparities across the area. Brantford was the site of the largest residential school in Canada; to date, there has been no official recognition or commemoration of this by the Brantford 32 In 2008, the City of Brantford sought an injunction against protesters who were stopping development at construction sites in the city that were subject of native land claims. See 21

27 about Brantford among the community? Some communities are isolated and underresourced for example, they may lack a grocery store, playground equipment. These may be considered marginalized communities; multisectoral work is needed in these communities. Tensions from the 2008 land claim dispute are still evident 32 ; this is viewed by some as a continuation of the historical practice of using the law to oppress native peoples; racism against the aboriginal population is bubbling below the surface. The land claim dispute had an impact on jobs and livelihoods. Some feel that the land claim dispute intensified tensions between the aboriginal and non aboriginal population. Some feel that tensions are greater within the aboriginal youth population rather than between the aboriginal and non aboriginal youth populations. New communication methods such as Facebook are being used by family members to escalate conflicts. Funding for native events open to the public (e.g. community feast, participation in the Brantford International Village) has not been sustainable even though feedback has been positive for the events held. community. [May provide an opportunity to build bridges in the community.] The Community Garden project (organized by several community service agencies and the City, focused on communitybuilding and healing) was a huge success, but it lasted only 1 year. Opportunity exists to build on lessons learned and try it again. (The former City property is now owned by Brantford Native Housing.) Turn the problem of community disparity into the opportunity of community diversity. How can this potential be maximized? Successful crime prevention/ community safety programs have a geographic or sectoral focus. Six Nations students that live on the reserve go to school on the reserve until Grade 8, then switch to a high school in one of the two School Boards. Native counselors help them to make the transition. The GEDSB and BHNCDSB school boards have distributed the voluntary selfidentification form for native youth, a requirement for accessing certain funding available to the urban aboriginal population. Potential Future Directions: Review/develop new residential planning guidelines aimed at fostering neighbourhood safety and community building Undertake additional actions to celebrate diversity and promote inclusiveness and mutual understanding urban aboriginal population, LGBT community, newcomers, etc. Strengthen the Neighbourhood Alliance and support the formation of additional neighbourhood organizations and neighbourhood events 22