The trial period for Sechelt’s private security patrol is complete, but with positive initial feedback from community members and district staff, the patrols won’t be stopping anytime soon.
Sechelt council moved to extend the private security pilot program for another three months in a regular meeting on Jan. 17.
The three-month security patrol pilot project was approved in early September 2023 with a budget of $50,000 from the COVID restart fund. However, it only spent $21,992.73 (roughly 43 per cent) during the trial period.
The staff report states that the security service has provided extensive reporting, indicating high levels of activity observed and numerous calls to the RCMP as well as Sechelt Fire Department.
It also notes that data on crime statistics are not yet available, but that anecdotal feedback from community members and businesses about the program has been positive.
Staff requested that the remaining funding be used to approve an additional three months of patrols.
Coun. Dianne McLauchlan asked about the effectiveness of the patrols given that it is the middle of winter, adding that downtown seems to be much more quiet this time of year as opposed to tourism season.
Lindsay Roberts, director of corporate and community services, shared some of what the security patrols have accomplished, noting that there has been a decrease in vandalism such as spray painting and breaking of windows as well as fires. She added that patrols have been communicating with and filing their reports to the RCMP.
Coun. Brenda Rowe spoke in favour of the extension, saying that the District has received positive feedback from the community safety group, and applauding the detail in the reports the security team provides.
“Being that we've already approved the money and we just haven't spent it all, I think if we can continue to collect that data that would be a good thing,” she said.
Several councillors echoed the importance of the data collection from the private security patrols.
McLauchlan did not support the extension, suggesting that the money could be saved and used later.
“I think saving money is good for the taxpayer if we don't need to spend it. Even if we have the COVID funds, maybe we should be using the money towards supporting the homeless,” she said. “A carrot instead of a stick.”
Council voted to extend the private security pilot program with only McLauchlan opposed.
Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
