Crime Reduction Enforcement Support Team (Details)

Name of province/ territory:

Manitoba

City/ Region:

N/A

Description of Initiative:

The Crime Reduction Enforcement Support Team (CREST) is a dedicated team created to assist northern detachments in Manitoba by providing enforcement support. CREST supports the 23 detachments that make up Manitoba North District by promoting, mentoring and initiating intelligence sharing, crime reduction initiatives, human source development, strategic partnerships and highway interdiction. CREST also provides support to Major Crime Services, Winnipeg Drug Section, Manitoba Integrated High-Risk Offender Unit, Jetway Interdiction Team, Warrant Apprehension Unit and other support services located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. CREST travels throughout Manitoba North District and conducts "blitz" enforcement actions, such as prolific offender compliance checks and "warrant for arrest" round-ups. Five full-time peace officers (one sergeant and four constables) and one full-time public servant have been assigned to CREST.

Initiative Key Objectives:

The primary mandate of CREST is to promote, mentor and initiate intelligence sharing, crime reduction initiatives and human source development in 22 detachments in Manitoba North District. CREST forms partnerships with the Crown, Probation Services, Parole Services and commercial transportation agencies to reduce crime. The secondary mandate of CREST is to assist detachments by providing investigative support and short-term relief. This includes assisting during major investigations (such as homicides), assisting with search warrant preparation and providing personnel for large community events. CREST supplements the heavy workload of RCMP members in Northern Manitoba. The third mandate of CREST is to provide training and deliver courses to RCMP members in Manitoba North District. They act as "traveling teachers."

Other objectives:

  • create and support the northern Crime Reduction Strategy;
  • create and support a prolific offender management strategy;
  • promote the cultivation of human sources;
  • conduct highway interdiction of illegal drugs and alcohol; and
  • do warrant apprehension.

Section Responsible for Implementation:

Manitoba North District

Key Contact:

RCMP—'D' Division / GRC — Division D
ddiv_contact@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Groups/ Agencies/ Key Partners Involved:

  • private agencies/corporations
  • other government departments/agencies

Level of Involvement (consultative - information sharing) and/or cooperative - direct involvement):

Information sharing

Amount of Time Initiative has been in Place:

Since August 2011.

Reason for Undertaking the Initiative:

This initiative was undertaken as a result of the growing crime rate.

Resources Required to Implement this Initiative:

Resources were redeployed from the district. Set-up costs are those of equipping the team. Initial start-up costs (not including salary dollars) included the purchase of four work station desks, five laptop computers, two vehicles, and operational equipment such as video cameras, digital voice recorders, etc. Furthermore:

  • expended costs in 2011/2012 were approximately $83,000;
  • costs to date in 2012/2013 are $135,000; and
  • the annual operating budget is estimated at $200,000.

Method of Implementation:

Phased in as resources became available.

Key Outcomes of the Initiative:

CREST is meeting and exceeding the objectives. The following outcomes have been observed:

  • a noticeable switch from reactive to proactive policing;
  • a substantial increase in the number of prolific offenders being monitored (59 in 2010, 102 in 2011 and 150 so far in 2012)—offenders are being held accountable and are put back in jail if found offending;
  • an increase in drug seizures and drug charges in Thompson and the smaller communities;
  • an aggressive reduction in the number of outstanding warrants for arrest;
  • an overall increase in intelligence sharing (NCDB);
  • an increase in human source recruitment;
  • skilled investigators deployed to support detachments (a Northern General Investigation Section);
  • efficient human resource deployments to major events (without having to take members away from detachments); and
  • an increase in enforcement regarding the movement of contraband (drugs, alcohol, hairspray, etc.) into the northern communities via interdiction at airports, bus stations and Canada Post.

Availability of a Communication Strategy:

Yes

Key Messages used to Publicize the Initiative:

  • Crime reduction strategy for gangs, guns and drugs.
  • Holding prolific offenders accountable for their actions.

Forms of Evaluation by which the Initiative will be Assessed:

  • internal

Evaluation Completed or Community Feedback Received:

Yes

Summary of the Outcomes:

Very well received both by RCMP members in the northern detachments and by elected officials. The only negative feedback received to date is that the team is not large enough to provide more regular enforcement activities to the 23 units it supports.

CREST was implemented approximately one and half years ago. Statistics are being tracked and an annual report will be drafted in 2013 (and then annually) to show the crime reduction programs and enforcement support projects. CREST is a support unit, and therefore crime statistics are attributed to a specific Detachment. Crime statistics will be reported, but crime trends need longer monitoring and comprehensive analysis to confirm patterns.

Summary of the Performance Measure Data Collected:

N/A

Economics of Policing Pillars:

Further Details:

N/A

Additional Comments or Suggestions:

N/A

Record Entry Date:

2013-08-01

Date modified: