Video: Police in Mississauga, Brampton use ‘tech and innovation’ to help people in need
Published October 21, 2022 at 12:43 pm
Peel Regional Police say they’re looking at things through a somewhat different lens these days when it comes to keeping Mississauga and Brampton residents and their communities safe.
Earlier this year, Peel police launched a community safety and well-being plan called “Our Way Forward,” which seeks to get people the community services they need and when they need them.
Noting that 80 per cent of calls to 911 in Mississauga and Brampton are “non-criminal,” police brass say it’s therefore crucial to respond as best they can to those emergency calls from people experiencing issues of mental health, addiction and homelessness.
Essentially, the initiative aims to get people the help they need and reduce unnecessary interventions from police, while also being proactive in addressing issues that result in crime, police say.
Nearly four months after launching “Our Way Forward,” Peel police have released a video (see below) in which they explain the objective of the plan and how they’re putting it into practice.
Part of the strategy involves offering counseling services to members of the community with drug addictions and those who are caught driving impaired, as well as partnering with other services in Peel to respond to incidents that have less to do with crime and more to do with complex social issues.
Videos
Peel police Chief Nishan Duraiappah earlier this year called the strategy, which is part of the force’s Community Safety and Well-Being framework, a “significant milestone” that will transform policing in Peel.
“The Community Safety and Well-Being framework is based on the idea that it is critical to focus more of our efforts ‘upstream’ to proactively identify and address issues that impact safety and well-being instead of concentrating downstream after an incident requiring police or other crisis-based services has already occurred,” said Duraiappah.
–with files from Jonah Shinuda
80% of 911 calls are non-criminal ; we launched “Our Way Forward.” a Community Safety & Well-Being plan to get residents the community services they need when needed. See how we’re achieving our goal using tech & innovation: https://t.co/lxfk4xUaAx @DeputyOdoardi @vmwarenews pic.twitter.com/RC5c9MwQS8
— Peel Regional Police (@PeelPolice) October 21, 2022
INsauga's Editorial Standards and Policies