Archive for June, 2011
Smart on Crime
Smart on Crime in Waterloo Region: Getting to the Roots of Crime
When we set out to develop a new strategic plan for the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council (WRCPC) in 2010, we didn’t set out, intentionally, to create “the smart plan”….. It just evolved that way.
As we started to create our new plan, we had four elements to work with:
- A ton of information from an intensive community consultation process;
- The desire to create a plan that would engage our entire community from the grassroots to the highest levels of decision making ;
- The need to move beyond the tough vs. soft on crime debate;
And,
- This quote
Recognize complexity. Accept uncertainty. Embrace possibility. Trust community. Proceed with humanity. (©Eric Young, 2010 “Innovators in Action” Speaker Series)
Smart on Crime emerged as a plan that is rooted in the experience of the Waterloo Region community. But we also paid attention to what we know about successful municipally-based crime prevention in Canada and elsewhere. Smart is…
- Addressing the roots and risk factors for crime
- Using evidence based research to understand what works
- Investing in prevention, which costs less in the long and short term
- Building capacity in both communities and individuals
- Working in partnership across all sectors
- Focusing on actions that create social change
We also asked our community to tell us what smart on crime means to them.
It can be a challenging thing for an organization to throw itself open to full public scrutiny the way we did during the development of Smart on Crime. But we received such valuable information during the process that we couldn’t imagine creating this plan in any other way. It was during one focus group session that a group of people told us “We love what you do and we want more of it. But we don’t want you to work harder and longer hours… just work smarter”. That’s when the light bulb went on. The message of “Smart on Crime” began to develop in this organic way and its simplicity made sense to people.
Trailblazing a Smart Approach
Quite simply, preventing crime before it happens is the smart thing to do. It’s not about being tough on crime; it’s not about being soft on crime. It’s about being smart on crime. Smart on Crime in Waterloo Region focuses on what works best to prevent and reduce crime, victimization and fear of crime. Each and every person, community leader, organization and service in our community has a role to play in crime prevention. By this inclusive effort of all community members, we are well-placed to sustain the progress that makes us one of the safest communities in Canada.
Smart on Crime in Waterloo Region encourages a path of innovation and allows us to respond creatively to opportunities, emerging trends and community needs. Most of all, it challenges us to focus on putting together our collective knowledge, wisdom and experience about the root causes of crime and how to reduce and prevent them.
Now that is smart.
Author:
Juanita Metzger is a Community Engagement Coordinator with the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council and blogs for Smart on Crime in Waterloo Region. You can also find the Crime Prevention Council on Twitter and Facebook.
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