SURREY, B.C. — RCMP in Surrey, B.C., are taking the lead in a new intervention plan touted elsewhere in Canada for reducing child protection cases, violent crimes and emergency-room admissions.
Police say the approach involves a weekly meeting of officers and professionals from corrections, housing, health, social services, income assistance and education.
The meeting would allow members to review cases where a referring agency believes there is a high probability of immediate harm for an individual or family.
If the group determines a situation involves elevated risk, the appropriate agencies would intervene within 24 to 48 hours.
The plan is modelled after one that originated in Prince Albert, Sask., and has been used in other communities in Canada and the United States over the past four years.
RCMP say nearly two thirds of their calls last year involved issues such as poverty, substance abuse and homelessness and that police can't fix those problems by simply arresting people.
