CHIEF SAYS CRIME PLAN FALLS SHORT

More Police, Prosecutors On The Way

As Calgary police investigated another shooting death on city streets
Tuesday, Chief Rick Hanson welcomed the Stelmach government's new
$470-million crime-reduction strategy. But he said it won't deliver
the number of officers he needs.

The province's response Tuesday to the Crime Reduction and Safe
Communities task force report also garnered support from victims of
crime, although opposition parties labelled it empty pre-election rhetoric.

The government blueprint, which is short on specifics, pledges to put
more police officers on the streets, target repeat offenders and
enforce grittier prevention and treatment efforts.

The number of new officers for Calgary -- which has experienced a
spate of violent crime recently -- likely won't be known until next
spring's provincial budget, but Hanson said he'll take what he can get.

"More police officers means we can focus more on the gangs, the guns,
the drugs," Hanson told reporters at a press conference in Edmonton.
"I would probably want 100 additional police officers over a period
of time to properly focus on the issues at hand. But I can tell you
that's not going to happen. We'll take whatever is our share."

Alberta ranks eighth among the provinces with 168 police officers per
100,000 people, well behind Quebec, Manitoba, Ontario and British Columbia.

The nine-member task force, led by Calgary Tory MLA Heather Forsyth,
met more than 1,700 Albertans in 14 communities before submitting its report.

The government agreed to:

- - Hire more police, although an exact number may not be known until
the spring budget;

- - Establish specialized courts for domestic violence, drug treatment
and mental health;

- - Target chronic repeat offenders;

- - Develop and enforce legislation allowing the province to seize
money and property gained through the proceeds of crime, and use
those resources to fund victim compensation;

- - Swiftly deal with known drug houses;

- - Ensure at-risk youth have access to longer and more intense
treatment for addictions and mental illnesses, including expanding
the mandatory length of time children can be required to remain in treatment;

- - Expand access to mental health services and treatment;

- - Place greater emphasis on preventing root causes of crime, such as
family violence and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder;

- - Provide early and ongoing education for children about the dangers
of gangs, drugs and other crime;

- - Expand provincial support for programs aimed at preventing domestic
violence and providing support for victims;

- - Adopt a Safe Neighbourhoods Act expanding the powers of
municipalities to tackle crime and improve safety in communities; and

- - Establish a Safe Communities Secretariat by April.

The plan will allow the province to hire six new prosecutors and 28
support staff, offer 40 new residential addiction treatment beds and
50 youth detox beds.

The announcement came the same day Calgary homicide detectives
investigated the death of a man shot Tuesday in the southwest
neighbourhood of Altadore. Police are still trying to determine the
cause of death, but have called it suspicious.

The crime-fighting plan -- which comes as data show crime rates are
decreasing -- accepts 29 of 31 recommendations from the task force.

The crime-reduction plan is being applauded by a Calgary mother whose
son's 2003 stabbing death remains unsolved.

But Steffi Stehwien says there must be tougher consequences for
violent criminals.

"It's all good but it's missing some important stuff. We need
deterrents, we need judges to make tougher decisions. Why is there
bail for violent crime? Why is there early parole?" asked Stehwien,
whose 18-year-old son was killed outside a nightclub.

Premier Ed Stelmach said his government will commit $470 million over
three years to implement the plan, which will also see the province
hire more Crown prosecutors, overhaul the bail system and monitor
offenders more closely.

"We must take criminals off our streets and keep them off," Stelmach said.

In a separate announcement, the province unveiled a groundbreaking
effort to bring agencies together to stop stalking and domestic violence.

The initiative brings together law enforcement, the courts and
community centres to share information and offer faster help and
support to victims.

"These cases are predictable and preventable," said Val Campbell, the
project's director.