Police officers will be walking Victoria streets again, as new beat team created
CBC
The Victoria Police Department will have officers patrolling on foot for the first time since 2022, thanks to new funding from the city.
The department’s new beat team, funded by $1.9 million dollars, includes nine officers — seven who will patrol the city in general, with a focus on downtown, and two assigned specifically to work with city bylaw officers.
It’s part of the city of Victoria’s Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan, a set of over 100 recommendations which was released last year to address public concerns about safety and social disorder.
“Officers who are visible, approachable and present on the street strengthen trust, improve safety and create opportunities for early intervention,” said VicPD Chief Constable Fiona Wilson.
While the police force had beat teams in the past, Wilson said the most recent version was disbanded because of a lack of funding and a shift in priorities towards other types of policing.
But now, the city has asked for more visible police on the streets and has also offered the money to make it happen.
The new team is made up of experienced officers from within the force, led by Sergeant Craig Barker — who has been a beat officer in the past.
He said he saw a change for the worse when there were no longer beat officers maintaining connections in the community, so connections will be the focus of the new team.
“People are more likely to talk to us and tell us their concerns [when they know us],” said Barker.
The officers will patrol in pairs, interacting with the public and checking in on local businesses.
Mayor Marianne Alto said the new team is “critically important” to Victoria, and a sign of a new partnership between the city and the police department, dedicated to community safety.
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