Elizabeth on X.. a podcast update posted this week, listen here:
My job can be dangerous. Just this past week my staff had to call the police for help at the office. I have had people threaten me physically and verbally and even been in life-threatening situations. Things have escalated since the pandemic. Now I am seeing too many people in our communities also be in threatening situations involving weapons and theft, drugs and illegal activity. It's not ok.
We must be smarter and stronger than those who choose criminal activity and a dark path.
The best part of my job is helping individuals and communities come to know and understand their own power. This is when the magic happens. One person, regardless of their title cannot fix all the problems, but together, when we are united for good, we can make our community and our lives better and safer.
This past week I hosted public meetings on crime and justice in Amherst on Monday and Pugwash on Thursday.
In Amherst, approximately 75 people attended and asked questions and added comments to a panel that included Deputy Chief Tim Hunter of the Amherst Police Dept., Staff Sgt. Andrew Clarke RCMP, Sgt. Brian Cameron RCMP, Hal Davidson Town Councillor, MP Stephen Ellis and myself.
In Pugwash, approximately 35 people attended, asked questions and added comments to a panel that included Staff Sgt. Andrew Clarke RCMP, Sgt. Brian Cameron, County Councillor for Pugwash area Jennifer Houghtaling and myself.
Crime, Drugs, theft, and threats with weapons, have become all too common and the frustration is growing in our communities. I planned the meetings because I am hearing from people every single day and I am worried we are going to start seeing injury and maybe even worse.
Hopefully, these meetings will be an impetus for people to start Neighbourhood Watches, get criminals off the streets and behind bars for more than a few hours....... and in a perfect world, those criminals will get the help they need to rehabilitate, get set on a new path that is healthy and positive.
Some of the things we heard from people who attended the meetings included:
- People are angry that criminals are not being arrested
- People are angry that once criminals are arrested, they are often released back out onto the street within a few hours or the next day
- Law enforcement is frustrated that once criminals are arrested, Crown Prosecutors often decide the charges are not enough to prosecute and release the criminals onto the street to re-offend
- Everyone is disgusted that criminals of sexual assault, theft, robbery, including other serious crimes, are being released due to long delays and backlogs in the court system. Due to Jordan's principle if criminals wait more than 18 months for court dates their case can be dismissed despite the severity of the crime
- Citizens want to live in safe communities and many people expressed they do not feel safe anymore
- Business owners are angry with the ongoing theft and want more arrests and punishment for criminals
- People struggling with addictions to illicit drugs do not have access to rehab or detox, in fact, the detox in Springhill has been closed on weekends now for several months
- Law enforcement needs more people to report criminal activity so they have enough evidence to lay charges
Some suggestions from both meetings included:
1. Report, Report, Report !!! If you see a crime please report it immediately to either Town of Amherst Police or Cumberland RCMP. If you report a crime and do not get an officer to contact you to follow up, contact them again and ask for the Chief to ensure the report was documented and action taken.
2. If you are concerned about retaliation from the criminal, contact Crimestoppers 1-800-222-8477 to ensure anonymity
crimestoppers.ns.ca
3. Are you worried about illegal drugs, alcohol, prostitution, or gaming in your building or on your street? If yes, Contact SCAN - Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods. 1-877-357-2337SCAN is based out of the NS Dept of Justice
My job can be dangerous. Just this past week my staff had to call the police for help at the office. I have had people threaten me physically and verbally and even been in life-threatening situations. Things have escalated since the pandemic. Now I am seeing too many people in our communities also be in threatening situations involving weapons and theft, drugs and illegal activity. It's not ok.
We must be smarter and stronger than those who choose criminal activity and a dark path.
The best part of my job is helping individuals and communities come to know and understand their own power. This is when the magic happens. One person, regardless of their title cannot fix all the problems, but together, when we are united for good, we can make our community and our lives better and safer.
This past week I hosted public meetings on crime and justice in Amherst on Monday and Pugwash on Thursday.
In Amherst, approximately 75 people attended and asked questions and added comments to a panel that included Deputy Chief Tim Hunter of the Amherst Police Dept., Staff Sgt. Andrew Clarke RCMP, Sgt. Brian Cameron RCMP, Hal Davidson Town Councillor, MP Stephen Ellis and myself.
In Pugwash, approximately 35 people attended, asked questions and added comments to a panel that included Staff Sgt. Andrew Clarke RCMP, Sgt. Brian Cameron, County Councillor for Pugwash area Jennifer Houghtaling and myself.
Crime, Drugs, theft, and threats with weapons, have become all too common and the frustration is growing in our communities. I planned the meetings because I am hearing from people every single day and I am worried we are going to start seeing injury and maybe even worse.
Hopefully, these meetings will be an impetus for people to start Neighbourhood Watches, get criminals off the streets and behind bars for more than a few hours....... and in a perfect world, those criminals will get the help they need to rehabilitate, get set on a new path that is healthy and positive.
Some of the things we heard from people who attended the meetings included:
- People are angry that criminals are not being arrested
- People are angry that once criminals are arrested, they are often released back out onto the street within a few hours or the next day
- Law enforcement is frustrated that once criminals are arrested, Crown Prosecutors often decide the charges are not enough to prosecute and release the criminals onto the street to re-offend
- Everyone is disgusted that criminals of sexual assault, theft, robbery, including other serious crimes, are being released due to long delays and backlogs in the court system. Due to Jordan's principle if criminals wait more than 18 months for court dates their case can be dismissed despite the severity of the crime
- Citizens want to live in safe communities and many people expressed they do not feel safe anymore
- Business owners are angry with the ongoing theft and want more arrests and punishment for criminals
- People struggling with addictions to illicit drugs do not have access to rehab or detox, in fact, the detox in Springhill has been closed on weekends now for several months
- Law enforcement needs more people to report criminal activity so they have enough evidence to lay charges
Some suggestions from both meetings included:
1. Report, Report, Report !!! If you see a crime please report it immediately to either Town of Amherst Police or Cumberland RCMP. If you report a crime and do not get an officer to contact you to follow up, contact them again and ask for the Chief to ensure the report was documented and action taken.
2. If you are concerned about retaliation from the criminal, contact Crimestoppers 1-800-222-8477 to ensure anonymity
crimestoppers.ns.ca
3. Are you worried about illegal drugs, alcohol, prostitution, or gaming in your building or on your street? If yes, Contact SCAN - Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods. 1-877-357-2337SCAN is based out of the NS Dept of Justice
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