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December 3, 2012
We sat down with Jean-Michel Blais, the new Chief of Halifax Regional Police to get his perspective on public safety in HRM.
1. Do you believe HRM is a safe place in which to live?
I absolutely believe that HRM is safe. Part of the reason I decided to pursue the opportunity to become Chief of Halifax Regional Police was because my family and I fell in love with Halifax and Nova Scotia. Having said that, I recognize that in certain areas at certain times, crime will occur, be it a theft from an unlocked vehicle, an assault arising from a fight between two intoxicated people, or an unpredictable meeting between individuals involved in the drug trade that results in gun fire. I also recognize that for most citizens of HRM there is a greater likelihood that they will find themselves involved in a civil court case rather than a criminal case or a police matter.
2. How do you measure public safety?
There are two elements to public safety, the subjective and objective. The subjective indicates the perception of public safety. The reality is that if people feel safe, which for the most part they do in HRM, then they are safe. On the other hand, if there is evidence that there is a crime trend or pattern in a certain area, then there is a problem with public safety. For us, by being transparent and communicating this objective information effectively to citizens and stakeholders, we can influence subjective perceptions.
3. What are the top three issues impacting public safety in HRM?
1) Gun violence by a cohort of young males, generally between the ages of 14-24. 2) Legislative changes, which include hours that bars are open, would appreciably lower our crime stats and enhance public safety. 3) The challenge of providing opportunities to youth to ensure they don’t become adults at-risk. This could include the obvious indicators of jobs, higher education opportunities and financial prospects as well as the not-so-obvious factors of community support, health, early education and the involvement of fathers in their lives.
4. What is your vision for public safety?
Public safety isn’t solely a police responsiblility. Complex issues such as violent crime require a holistic long-term approach. To effectively address the root causes of crime, we need the continued support and dedication of our public safety partners: federal and provincial levels of government, social agencies, the business community, community organizations and HRM citizens. From a policing point of view, my vision is based on empirical evidence; where we can look at the facts and determine our course of action, where we can explain our actions, our inaction and what we require to be able to ensure that HRM is devoid of serious crime. I may be a bit wishful in my thinking but we should be able to promptly tackle the issue of criminality provided we have the support of our public safety partners.
5. How can we engage citizens in playing a more active role in public safety?
There are four simple steps we can employ to engage our citizens. First, advise them of what they can do. Second, provide them with ideas and basic tools to begin the process. Third, engage them in discussion and dialogue about the effects of crime on them personally and the long-term consequences on our community, through social media and other communication channels. And finally and perhaps most importantly, demonstrate leadership in all that we do and encourage members of the community to step forward as leaders. We need the community and community leaders to work with us and we need to work with them.
Any final thoughts?
I’d like the people of HRM to realize that our police employees, both sworn members and civilians, are thoroughly dedicated professionals committed to ensuring that on a daily basis, the public is able to carry on their business, personal, professional and social activities in such a way to be able to enjoy all that life has to offer in HRM. Although you may not always see them out and about in our community, they are on the job 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, working to enable you to have the peace and tranquility to live a productive life. This is something that we take for granted in Canada, which in many places across the world is far from being the case. But here in HRM, we are fortunate to have a very high level of policing services.
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