By paNOW Staff

Approaching problems in Prince Albert

Mar 31, 2011 | 6:36 AM

By Ryan Pilon

paNOW Staff

It’s still early in its existence, and yet positive changes have already been made in Prince Albert as a result of it.

The Hub, a collective group of agencies such as the Prince Albert Police Service, Saskatchewan Rivers School Division, the Ministry of Social Services and the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region, work together to decrease crime in the city by focusing on prevention rather than reaction.

Sgt. Brent Kalinowsky with the Prince Albert Police Service said there have been a few success stories thus far.

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One example he provided, was when an educator noticed a student, who usually had good attendance and good marks, was falling asleep in class and at times not showing up. Police also had reports of the child going missing and being found intoxicated outside a downtown bar.

A meeting was set up between the student and police, addictions and social services.

“The meeting revealed domestic violence that was occurring in the home at the hands of a new male partner of the parent. Subsequent interviews with the parent led police to arrest and charge the male, and remove him from the home,” said Kalinowsky.

“The mom and student have reunited and the student went back to regular attendance at school.”

Another example was how a person, who had a clean record, began a spree of shoplifting and violence.

Upon further examination, it was discovered he was the victim of a traumatic crime.

“Historically this could have lead down a path of personal destruction, with no one being the wiser until it was too late,” said Kalinowsky.

“But early intervention, and the involvement of the Hub, enabled a generic discussion, and agencies were assigned to streamline services. Counseling was set up for the individual, and his criminal offences have stopped.”

If the Hub didn’t existed, these problems may have never been identified so early, Kalinowsky said.

“Historically we would’ve waited for these problems to come to us. And as we’ve seen historically, sometimes they don’t. So now we’re going to the problem early on,” he said.

In 16 meetings so far, the Hub has discussed 65 cases and has closed 44 of them with a resolution. For now they are dealing with quick-fix problems. Eventually, more complex situations will be handed to a group called the Core.

Kalinowsky couldn’t comment as to when that next step will occur.

rpilon@panow.com