Saskatchewan
The Building Partnerships to Reduce Crime (BPRC) approach, championed by the Premier of Saskatchewan, the President of the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police and the Assistant Commissioner, Commanding Officer RCMP “F” Division, advocates government and its partners doing business differently and relies on police, government officials and community-based organizations (CBOs) working together collaboratively to find local solutions to crime and victimization. By design, the BPRC approach is premised on global research and sound evidence. It supports the practice of partners positioned to address broader social issues by engaging and applying perspectives, information, talents and resources of multiple disciplines and agencies in collective ways in order to help address the full spectrum of crime reduction. BPRC partnerships are formalized under a project charter which includes eight of Saskatchewan’s largest police services as well as the human service ministries of Social Services, Justice, Corrections, Policing, Government Relations, Education, Advanced Education, Employment, Immigration, Parks, Culture and Sport and Health. The representative Enterprise Working Group, comprised of senior officials, supports the activities and tasks of strategic subcommittees. These subcommittees contribute to the community mobilization agenda, lending expertise to four key areas: communication, evaluation and measurement; leadership and capacity-building tools; models and methods; and collaborative training and education. BPRC consultants provide a secretariat function to the interministerial Enterprise Working Group. They also provide consultative support to communities and organizations interested in using BPRC approaches to create and develop crime reduction initiatves and programs or to improve upon work underway that is already utilizing BPRC tools and supports.
The overall goal of BPRC is to reduce crime in Saskatchewan by using a risk-driven crime reduction partnership approach. The combined approach, efforts, expertise, information, intelligence and resources of the justice system and human services system contribute in deliberate and cooperative ways, to address the full spectrum of crime reduction: prevention, intervention and suppression. The overall focus of this approach is on reducing victimization and improving community safety outcomes.Community safety and crime reduction efforts will be owned and led by the community, built upon community strengths and supported by local and provincial leadership. Demonstrated evidence, together with measurable models and best practice methods, tools and programs will exemplify the BPRC approach to crime reduction.
Ministry of Justice—Corrections and Policing—Community Safety Division
Barbara Rawlukbarbara.rawluk@gov.sk.ca or partnerships@gov.sk.ca
BPRC is an interministerial and intersectoral endeavour guided and supported by the Enterprise Working Group, comprised of senior officials with decision-making authority from Social Services, Justice, Corrections and Policing, Government Relations, Education, Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration, Parks, Culture and Sport and Health. BPRC is also supported by the President of Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police, the Commanding Officer of the Provincial RCMP and senior officials from the eight largest police services in the province. In its application at the local level, BPRC engages the active participation of municipal and band council leaders, CBOs, community members and the private sector. In addition, academic research partnerships have been struck at the provincial level with both the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina for the purpose of continuing to research, evaluate and enhance the strategy.
The Building Partnerships to Reduce Crime strategy (BPRC) was officially announced in September 2011, with implementation advancing rapidly throughout 2012.
Saskatchewan has historically and continues to have one of the highest crime rates in Canada and requires a focused approach to crime reduction in addition to enforcement. The BPRC approach was launched to address the urgent need for new approaches to crime in Saskatchewan as desired by police, the Government of Saskatchewan and the public. The idea emerged from a commissioned Future of Policing (FOP) report presented to the Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing in 2009. It showed that despite increased resources, traditional law enforcement practices were not addressing climbing crime rates in many Saskatchewan communities and, further, that attempting to address these concerns through investments in policing alone would be ineffective and unsustainable. The issues facing children, youth and families at risk are interconnected and common across different ministries, agencies and mandates. The FOP report, together with additional research, led to aligning the provincial government and police leaders toward BPRC as a means to empower integrated solutions to deal with issues unique to Saskatchewan.
Extensive consultation and research components of the Future of Policing Project, “A Province-wide Policing Strategy to Reduce Crime, Build Safe Communities, and Secure the Future for Saskatchewan” (2010), was the precursor to this initiative. The BPRC approach was created and developed through inter-ministerial consultation and decision making. Following Cabinet endorsement and approval, BPRC launched into action planning, implementation and staff recruiting.
As of August 2012, BPRC measurement and evaluation frameworks are in development. They are supported by the expertise of the staff of Ministry of Justice—Corrections and Policing, who also lead a committee comprised of policing and academic specialists. As of October 2012, eight Community Mobilization Prince Albert, or “Hub,” initiatives are in stages of exploration, development and implementation. Other initiatives using the BPRC approach will develop in the coming months as an outcome of BPRC and RCMP community outreach.
Yes
Communications content specialists created key messages as contained in the "Building Partnerships to Reduce Crime" (September 2011) document found at www.cpsp.gov.sk.ca.A communications strategy has also been developed and continues to build on the needs of the BPRC. This strategy includes developing the BPRC website, www.saskbprc.com (launched in September 2012), news conferences and events, a multimedia piece and proactive general communications to inform and educate the target audiences about the BPRC. As we move forward, the Communications Working Group will continue to build the inventory of key messages and refine the communication strategy. Currently, prominent communication messages include the following:
No
Evaluation framework development in progress 2012-13 with early implementation 2013-14. To date, community feedback has taken the form of enthusiastic uptake of the BPRC approach and its ‘showcase’ community model in Prince Albert. Communities across the province are engaged and are at various stages of readiness to move forward with BPRC-aligned, local initiatives.
N/A
Please see "Building Partnerships to Reduce Crime" (September 2011) at www.cpsp.gov.sk.ca. After Fall 2012, visit "www.saskbprc.com".
BRPC finds Saskatchewan receiving growing national attention for this model, together with Community Mobilization Prince Albert (the "Hub"), which exemplifies the approach. Champions are responding to invitations from jurisdictions across Canada and activities will be profiled at the National Summit on the Economics of Policing, Fall 2012.
2013-08-01