The newly released Vancouver Police Department 2007 Annual Report shows a long-term trend of Vancouver’s crime rate dropping since its peak in the mid-1990s. Statistics show double-digit decreases in theft and break & enters between 2006-2007. While serious concerns still exist around property crime, gang violence and the effects of drug abuse and mental illness on our streets, there is much evidence to show that Vancouver is becoming a more safe and secure city.
2007 will be remembered as a landmark year for the Vancouver Police Board. In addition to publishing a comprehensive five-year Strategic Plan, we chose a new Chief Constable. Chief Jim Chu has done a wonderful job leading the force in his first year on the job. With his leadership, we are very excited about our ability to enhance public safety in the coming years.
The Vancouver Police Board’s five-year Strategic Plan provides an overview of how the Department intends to focus its energy and resources to make Vancouver Canada’s safest major city. It has already become an essential tool for the Board and it has been instrumental in our successes.
(MORE INFO: Vancouver getting safer, says police crime report, The Province)
Among other things, we are:
- securing historic commitments from City Council for new police officers,
- equipment and infrastructure
- using innovative strategies to restore public order in the Entertainment District
- on the way to double-digit decreases in property and violent crime compared to 2006
- increasing awareness regarding challenges associated with mental health
- implementing the “Con Air” program to return offenders to their home jurisdictions
- across Canada
- updating the mandate of community police centres
- working with federal and provincial agencies on issues related to security for the
- 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
While many challenges remain, we look forward to working through them together with our community partners and reporting more progress in the year ahead. It is my hope that this report will give you further insight into the work of the Vancouver Police Department.
For more information on the Board’s work over the past year, visit the Board’s website at www.vancouverpoliceboard.ca.
Sam Sullivan
Mayor and Chair of the Vancouver Police Board
