'We are no longer going to put up with the heinous acts of crime': Stefanson
Premier Heather Stefanson is saying enough is enough when it comes to crime in Manitoba.
With that, Stefanson announced Thursday that her government is investing over $3 million to create an integrated violent offender apprehension unit, and also improve bail and probation supervision for serious, violent offenders.
"We are no longer going to put up with the heinous acts of crime committed by the most violent criminals in our society," said Stefanson at a news conference Thursday.
The new apprehension unit will strengthen the coordination between the Winnipeg Police Service, Manitoba RCMP and other police agencies to track and monitor high-risk and violent offenders.
It will also have dedicated officers and programs in place to intervene when needed.
"Starting immediately, police services in Manitoba will be getting the support they need, they have long deserved."
The premier said the unit will locate offenders who are responsible for violent crime in Winnipeg and communities throughout the province and they will have the tools and resources available to take offenders into custody.
The other part of the announcement was focused on bail and probation supervision, with the premier saying new initiatives will lead to intensive supervision for specific offenders so they can comply with their bail conditions as well as improve probation programs that focus on criminals who are deemed high-risk.
Stefanson said the programs will help provide more resources to more offenders, which in turn will help decrease the likelihood of people reoffending.
Mayor Scott Gillingham said crime was the number one topic being discussed in Winnipeg on the campaign trail over the last six months.
"By bringing together law enforcement, government departments and social service agencies, we can do so much more," said Gillingham.
Insp. Shawn Pike, with the Winnipeg Police Service, said the hope is this new unit will have an immediate impact on crime in the city and province.
"As we continue to proceed with the implementation process on an operational level, we expect this new unit to be fully operational in early 2023," said Pike.
He added the unit to start would include six officers from Winnipeg police and six officers from the RCMP.
Michael Weinrath, a criminologist at the University of Winnipeg, said there are limits to the province's new strategy.
"You can't keep people in jail or prison forever, unless you want to be like the United States and spend more money on your prisons than you do on your universities," said Weinrath.
However, Weinrath does believe the bail step the province announced could help people and keep them out of jail.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.