Around 125 north end Moncton residents talked about public safety at a meeting held Wednesday night.
The focus was concerns about increased reports of crime in the neighborhood.
“There has just been quite a swell of concern for public safety, especially in the fall. And the sense was that petty crime was certainly up as far as break-ins to cars and baby barns. So just a lot of concern. So we wanted to have a very focussed meeting on public safety and bring people together in one room,” Ward 3 Councillor Dave Steeves told us.
Several City Councillors and RCMP Superintendent Benoit Jolette were also in attendance.
“Once you have property stolen, you’re always thinking could this happen again? But by neighbours coming together and looking out for each other and keeping an eye out, they’re going to notice suspicious activity,” Steeves says.
Jolette told the residents to report everything so that the RCMP can continue to keep data and make sure there are police in the places where there needs to be more watch.
“There was a good feeling and the next steps for us are to continue to work with the tri community. So with the three councils, Riverview, Dieppe, and Moncton. They’ll need to work with the Codiac Regional Policing Authority, to look at the ratio of the police officers,” Steeves added. ” Our growth is so rapid, adding 10,000 more residents last year, that outpaces our proper policing ratio. The word on the street on Wednesday night was, that we need more boots on the ground. That was said many times.”
Jolette also shared that crime rates are only up by 1.5 per cent.
When asked where Steeves thinks the issue lies regarding crime, he told us they are hearing more about it recently through social media, on an active Facebook group for the north end.
“One of the concerns that was also identified is the judicial system. It’s like a catch-and-release situation. We need to invite our MLAs and MP to be involved in our next conversations to look into possible adjustments on theft and crime. Arresting someone 27 times in a row and having them back out on the street is certainly not the answer,” Steeves stated.
