By Tyler Marr

CPTED gathers for problem walkway in Deanscroft

Oct 31, 2018 | 12:00 PM

A problem pathway was the focus for a gathering of residents in the city’s Deanscroft neighbourhood, as the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Committee hosted a block party for the neighbourhood.

Organizers said they have worked with the community for some time, gathering information on the walkway, which is allegedly used for unwanted behaviour. Residents in the neighbourhood were surveyed and the results of which were shared Tuesday night.

“Everything we heard was ‘We need to do something, we just don’t know what we need to do,’” Trish McConnell, a human resource director with the City of North Battleford said. “So we are here to work through it together.”

Though some residents have suggested cutting down trees, shutting down the walkway and adding lights, McConnell said there is not one simple answer, though stressed the need to maintain a sense of community among residents.

“Crime happens, but the neighbours and the residents of the area need to get together and decide what to do with it,” she said.

municipal matters

North Battleford eyes road closure to make way for SaskPower project

5h ago

BUSTED

Suspect rams police vehicle during escape; seven charged in North Battleford

7h ago

'THREE UNITS TOOK SOME TIME'

Local First Nations receive tiny homes through BATC training project

8h ago

Jodi Hargreaves, a city employee and volunteer on the committee, said a number of residents were proactive by adding lights to their homes and blocking off parts of their yard where people undertaking unwanted activity would hide. Others, she said, have started a phone tree, which allows for quick communication between neighbours if something suspicious pops up.

“When residents know what’s going on in the neighbourhood, then the people who are not part of the neighbourhood won’t come around because they know there are people are watching and people who care what goes on,” Hargreaves added.

Both pointed to the happenings Tuesday night as the key to mitigating unwanted behaviour: connecting and continuing the conversation. Each stressed the need for residents to call the police whenever there is an incident, despite not wanting to pester police, as call numbers currently do not indicate high volumes of issues in the neighbourhood.

CPTED is a multi-disciplinary approach to deterring criminal behaviour through design. It can range from small-scale projects to entire urban neighbourhood design.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr

by Tyler Marr

CPTED gathers for problem walkway in Deanscroft

What's Trending