Moncton pilot project to include additional RCMP patrols

An eight-week pilot project will put more RCMP officers on patrol in downtown Moncton.

“Beginning March 1, and ending April 25, consisting of a dedicated full-time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, downtown security patrol service enforcement by regular Codiac RCMP detachment members during their overtime,” Councillor Daniel Bourgeois read the motion aloud at the Moncton City Council meeting this week.

The cost is approximately $288,000 for for the duration of the pilot project.

Downtown High Visibility Safety Patrol Pilot

Once the project is completed, an assessment report will be submitted to city council before May 31 to help determine the feasibility of the project and whether or not it should be extended with or without modifications.

This project also calls for $250,000 for Downtown Moncton Centreville Inc. to establish and manage a community resiliency fund to support small businesses affected by recent criminal activities.

It will help offset things like uninsured losses, deductibles and security improvements, to help reduce repeat victimization.

The funds to pay for downtown patrol will come from the City of Moncton Codiac Regional Policing Authority surplus deficit reserve. The resiliency fund will be paid for through the City Council contingency fund.

Moncton City Council unanimously voted in favour of the downtown patrols.

A local group called ‘Enough is Enough’ that advocates for public safety responded in a social media post.

“While welcoming positive steps from Moncton City Council, Enough is Enough continues to call for measurable action from all levels of government. The Downtown safety patrol pilot is a welcome step, with the hope that it expands community-wide. While the new relief fund helps, the real cost of crime far outweighs available resources, and prevention must be the priority.”