Michael Staples, Fredericton, N.B. (Daily Gleaner) – The delivery of RCMP services in New Brunswick is in the final stages of an extensive review, The Daily Gleaner has learned.
The review, which is being conducted internally by RCMP J Division, is examining ways the force can improve its frontline services.
Preliminary results are expected to be presented to RCMP management by early April.
Chief Supt. Wayne Lang said the review shouldn’t be looked at as negative, but as a way to make things better.
“It’s a pretty in-depth analysis of how we are doing business in this province with a view of becoming the best that we can,” he said. “I think it’s the single biggest initiative we have had in several years in terms of service delivery.”
Lang said communities want the RCMP to be responsive to their needs and have their priorities addressed.
“Ultimately, they want to see results. Part of the review will be structured to be responsive to the community.”
Lang said recommendations could deal with issues as broad as realigning districts to make it easier for the force to deal with its provincial partners.
“As far as impact for the greater Fredericton area, I think it is a little early to prejudge that,” Lang said.
Other areas being examined are how the RCMP takes calls, answers calls and how it follows up on complaints.
“Is there a better way to do business? Is it an effective use of our resources to make a patrol for every complaint? Or is there a better way to handle some of those complaints?”
Lang said senior members should have a good sense of where the force is going by the end of April.
Criminology and criminal justice expert Michael Boudreau of St. Thomas University said the review could be part of a broader debate in Canada about what role the RCMP has in provinces such as New Brunswick.
There are people within the force who feel it should be concentrating more on national issues such as terrorism, drug crimes and gangs, he said.
Boudreau said one area that should be examined is how the federal force can improve public relations. He said the RCMP needs to find more effective ways of getting its message out to the public.
“I think it would help them — especially in smaller communities — ones that don’t have a large presence of RCMP because they are stretched so thin,” Boudreau said. “It would, at least, let people know on a more regular basis where they are and what kinds of services they do provide to residents.”
This would be particularly relevant given the vast areas RCMP have to police in New Brunswick, he said.
“Sometimes people are confused in terms of jurisdictions between city police and RCMP and what it is one does compared to what the other can do,” Boudreau said. “Sometimes there is confusion out there as to who has authority over what and where.”
It`s about time:
After the recent retirements of two senior RCMP members which were over the Province of New Brunswick and the many civil law suits against the force by it`s own members, I think it`s about time that they look at the way they do things and come up with a better way to protect the fforce as this one is not working any more.
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