Delta Police Department releases its 2022-25 Community Safety and Well-Being plan

AFTER a year of review, gathering input and consulting, the Delta Police Department announced on Tuesday that it is releasing its 2022-25 Community Safety and Well-Being plan. The plan, created with the Delta Police Board, is progressive and responsive to calls for police modernization, while keeping the philosophy of “No Call Too Small” at the forefront, says the DPD.

The new plan embraces the principles of collaboration, service, diversity and inclusiveness. It recognizes that police operate in a complex environment, within a myriad of social and health issues.

To form the foundation for the plan, the DPD conducted a workload analysis, an environmental scan, and incorporated priorities from the Ministry of Public Safety and the City’s Foundation for the Future. Further input was gathered from community surveys, dialogue with community partners, the Delta Police Board, including Tsawwassen First Nation Chief Ken Baird, the Delta School District and the DPD team.

“One of the principles we recognize within this plan is that while police play an important role in public safety and community well-being, so too do the community and our partners,” says Chief Neil Dubord. “Obviously responding to public safety incidents is squarely in the realm of police, but we are seeking to work more closely with our partners in areas such as social responsibility and risk prevention.”

The DPD has committed to measuring the plan’s progress through benchmarks under four key performance indicators – crime, community safety and well-being, police legitimacy and efficiency.

“I think the public will be pleased to learn that we’ve committed to publicly reporting on progress. These benchmarks will be published regularly on our website,” says Dubord.

A key priority outlined in the new plan is to build safe communities for all those connected to Delta and the Tsawwassen First Nation. Delta Police will strive to accomplish this through encouraging citizen participation and dialogue through social media and our visible presence.

Another priority is to support vulnerable people and those experiencing mental health challenges. The approach here will be focused on harm reduction, with the intent being to connect vulnerable people with the community-based supports. Multi-channel education and awareness campaigns on issues such as domestic violence and cyber-crime will also be supported.

As with previous years road safety was identified as a top concern for the community. While this is a shared responsibility, the DPD will focus on:

  • Commercial vehicle safety
  • Targeting distracted, dangerous and impaired drivers
  • Encouraging road safety awareness within the community, including collaborations with the City.

View the full 2022-2025 Community Safety and Well-Being Plan: https://deltapolice.ca/community-safety-and-well-being-plan-2022-2025