Murder rate could cost police: councillor
Posted Jan 5, 2012 06:20:54 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A municipal councillor says he will not support a budget increase for regional police, until there are clear solutions for the city’s growing crime problem.
Coun. Steve Streatch says he’ll ask Halifax Regional Police Chief Frank Beazley for a plan to reduce crime next week at the police commissioners’ meeting.
Last year there were 17 murders, among dozens of other violent crimes.
“The fact of the matter is, the municipality and the taxpayers last year had almost a $75 million police budget,” Streatch tells News 95.7. “People would want to think that kind of investment would bring them a sense of security and to not have to put up with the numbers and the incidents that we are seeing.”
Although the murder rate is at an all-time high, the overall annual crime rate is expected to be slightly lower than usual. Specific figures will be released next month.
Streatch says the violent crime problem won’t be solved by pouring more dollars into the police force.
“I have great concerns,” he said. “I’m not so sure we have our finger on exactly what the problem is or how to solve it, and I’m encouraging the chief to delve into this a little harder.”
Regional council will debate next year’s municipal finances over the next few months. This year, the police force accounted for about 10 per cent of the $758.7 million operating budget.
Click Here to see this year’s municipal budget breakdown on the HRM website.
