Nanaimo RCMP officers will take a closer look at Nanaimo neighbourhoods to hear concerns from residents. (file photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

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Police conducting ‘Safety Audits’ of Nanaimo neighbourhoods

Feb 20, 2021 | 7:42 AM

NANAIMO — Local police hope to have a better understanding of Nanaimo’s neighbourhoods and concerns from residents.

Community Policing Coordinator Christy Woods and VIU Criminology students will conduct what’s believed to be the first Safety Audit of Nanaimo neighbourhoods. Residents will fill out a survey about their neighbourhood and discuss their concerns with officers.

Woods told NanaimoNewsNOW it’s a project she’s undertaken in other jurisdictions to great success.

“Noticing a lot of challenges around community safety and a feeling of fear in many neighbourhoods, I thought this would be a useful tool for many neighbours to have a voice.”

She said she expects a wide range of responses from Nanaimo’s many neighbourhood community associations.

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“I think they’re going to talk about strengths they have but also challenges they face. I think we’re going to hear about social disorder and concerns for people’s well being. I think we’re going to hear quite a mix.”

The audits are expected to better illuminate the situation on the ground for officers about concerns and also how neighbourhoods are changing.

“Due to the crazy amounts of work our police officers have, sometimes it’s hard to actually take the time to listen, outside of crisis response, to how people are feeling. How neighbours, business owners and youth travel through and see the community isn’t always known by all of us who actually work in community safety, since we all have different experiences.”

The audits are expected to begin in March. Specific neighbourhoods the Nanaimo RCMP wants to learn more about will be informed about next steps.

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spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt