By Nigel Maxwell

P.A. group plans to shine brighter light on crime

Jan 17, 2018 | 11:00 AM

The Prince Albert Midtown Neighbourhood Watch Group (MNW) wants to light up the back alleys in their neighbourhood as a way to discourage criminal activity.
 
The idea was presented during the group’s public meeting Tuesday night at the John M. Cuelenaere library. The meeting began with a discussion of how the group would spend $1,500 raised during a community barbecue last fall.
 
MNW Board President Peter John said the group would purchase LED motion sensor lights, and ask homeowners to put them up on their garages.
 
“The original idea was to use the money to buy signs, but we are thinking this could be a bit more practical and could be a bit more beneficial,” he said.
 
Some at the meeting expressed concern about the impact on their own power bills. John said no home owner would be forced to put a light up, but rather they would talk to people on a house-by-house basis. The group wanted to start the inititiative in the 400 and 500 blocks of 10th, 11th and 12th streets.
 
“The vision is as we keep fundraising and we keep getting donations, we are going to keep picking different parts of the neighbourhood and hopefully light up as many back alleys as we can,” John said.
 
John is working closely with Ward 3 councillor Evert Botha and hopes to see the cameras go up this summer.
 
Joan Parker was among the seniors at the meeting and has lived in the Midtown area for 66 years. She supports the group’s proposal.
 
“It’s my home and anything I can do to be reassured that I can stay there at 90-years-of-age alone in my own little house,” she said.
 
Jason Stonechild, Inspector in Charge of Operations for the Prince Albert Police Service, was asked by the neighbourhood watch group to attend the meeting.  
He said there were statistics that showed efforts by the group had improved safety. During the last six months of 2017, there was a 35.6 per cent decrease in crimes against property compared to the first six months of the year. Mischief and wilful damage was also down 11 per cent, and crimes against persons down 10.66 per cent. 
 
“I pulled the stats for the entire city, but I think there is a correlation there and I think there are some positive stories that will present themselves that comes with the perception of improved safety in the neigbourhood,” Stonechild said.
 
In addition to the motion sensor lights, the group also has plans to purchase more resources for their night patrols including vests and flashlights, and possibly decals to help identify the vehicles on patrol.
 
While Stonechild is supportive of the group’s intentions, he added there is some concern with the residents going out on patrol.
 
“We don’t want people being police officers, we want them to observe their neighbourhoods and to be familiar with their neighbourhood and to report suspicious activity or crime to police and let police deal with it,” he said.
 
 
nigel.maxwelll@jpbg.ca
 
On Twitter” @nigelmaxwell