Nanaimo RCMP's dedicated unit handling repeat violent offenders is seeing success with more remaining behind bars ahead of their court dates instead of being released. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

repeat offenders

‘We’ve only had one person released:’ Nanaimo repeat violent offender team sees early success

Jan 16, 2024 | 11:14 AM

NANAIMO — A local unit designed to focus on repeat violent offenders is seeing success, both related to their mandate and elsewhere in the Nanaimo area.

The Nanaimo RCMP’s Special Investigations and Targeted Enforcement (SITE) unit was formed through a spring 2023 initiative from the province, identifying and better handling repeat violent offenders through a program dubbed ReVOII, the Repeat Violent Offender Intervention Initiative.

Eight assigned Constables are led by Cpl. Stephen Dupuis and manage a fluid roster of roughly 40 offenders from Nanaimo, the north and central Island areas, who meet the criteria for repeat violent offenders.

“Nanaimo [alone] has 13 clients right now, that number fluctuates because clients move from one city to another or recently from the Island to the Mainland and visa versa other people move to Nanaimo.”

Presenting to Nanaimo City Council on Monday, Jan. 15, Dupuis said offenders are on the list for at least a year and are monitored closely and regularly by police.

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Those who leave the program do so for a variety of reasons.

“They may change their patterns and become healthy, or reach out to some of the programming and no longer be in the program but by having them locked in [permanently], it also doesn’t allow room for new clients that are causing problems in the city that weren’t perhaps a year ago.”

Their work began Sept. 20, 2023 and had quick success.

Dupuis said they’ve been able to bring better information to Crown counsel which has seen an increase in repeat offenders being jailed ahead of court proceedings, instead of out on bail.

“The ReVOII program has designated Crown counsel, so they have very strict rules on release, I believe they have an 80 per cent detention rate. The folks who are in the ReVOII program, of the 15 or so investigations we’ve forwarded, we’ve only had one person released back into the community.”

From the outset, six people identified as repeat violent offenders were already incarcerated while a further six or seven were at large in the community, according to Dupuis.

Within a month, only three or four remained out and about, affording those dedicated officers a chance to expand elsewhere.

“We have branched out to do other things such as patrolling the high crime areas of the city…things that are public and things that are violent. Our patrol area has mostly been from Canco on Terminal Ave. through to University Plaza, that’s where the majority of public disorder happens.”

Identifying vehicles linked to crime, or people with outstanding warrants which include violence, are all part of the unit’s directive, including people who may not meet ReVOII criteria but are still potentially violent.

They’ll also work with other detachment officers in responding to investigations as they arise.

Dupuis cited recent cases involving bear spray where there are a lot of witnesses to manage. He said having a dedicated team to take over the case means it’s dealt with more efficiently.

“What it’s done is allowed us to have a concentrated punch on a file, instead of it taking maybe two or three days on general duty. One of the biggest time balances for general duty officers is they’re right here, right now, you have their attention for a while but the calls for service will take that attention away so things linger.”

Dupuis added their unit, along with the ReVOII program is laser-focused on public safety and violence in the community at large.

He added issues around intimate partner violence and property crime continue to be investigated by local Mounties but are not part of the SITE team’s mandate.

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