RCMP to lead new plan to intervene in high-risk cases in Surrey, B.C.

SURREY, B.C. – RCMP in Surrey, B.C., are taking the lead in a new intervention plan touted elsewhere in Canada for reducing child protection cases, violent crimes and emergency-room admissions.

Police said the approach involves a weekly meeting of officers and professionals from corrections, housing, health, social services, income assistance and education.

The meetings allow members to review cases where referring agencies believe there is a high probability of harm for an individual or family.

Insp. Ghalib Bhayani, the community, safety and support director for the Surrey RCMP detachment, said that if the group determines a situation involves elevated risk, the appropriate agencies take action within 24 to 48 hours.

The plan is modelled after one that originated in Prince Albert, Sask., he said in an interview on Monday.

“There are four in the United States, all developed by the group that started in Prince Albert. It’s an incredible model and it’s one that I think you’re going to see spread across this country like wildfire.”

There are more than 50 groups across the country, most of them exist in Saskatchewan and Ontario because privacy laws in those provinces are different than elsewhere, including B.C.

“We had to go through a privacy impact assessment with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in B.C.,” Bhayani said.

Until now, two or three service providers, such as those dealing with mental health and addictions were involved with police in some cases, “but not eight or nine or 10 agencies at the same table,” Bhayani said.

“We’ve reduced risk for a few people now,” he said of the three meetings held so far.

He said the typical person being helped could be a 16- to 18-year-old drug-addicted, homeless female who is mentally ill and pregnant.

Now, various agencies are working together to provide prenatal and health care, addictions services and housing.

“Those things work independently, usually, and each agency will do them for her but to do them together, all within 48 hours, is unheard of in most provinces because police will be there at three in the morning to help her when she’s being kicked out and put her in a transitional home, and then we’re done.”

“She would have to find her way to an addictions counsellor, if she has one, and then find housing and get to hospital for prenatal health,” he said.

“It might take her weeks if not months to get all those things lined up. We can do that in 24 hours.”

The City of Surrey is providing the database, a meeting room is courtesy of the school district, and Mounties are leading the effort.

“This is a complete paradigm shift for us and for our partners in this province.”

Simply arresting people who are homeless, mentally ill or addicted to drugs won’t fix the problem, said Supt. Bill Fordy.

“Our hope is that through SMART’s proactive multi-agency approach, people who are most at risk of harm will be helped before they even need to deal with police.”

The Children’s Ministry, the Lookout Emergency Aid Society and the private and business sectors are among the partners in the initiative, called the Surrey Mobilization and Resiliency Table, or SMART.

Mayor Linda Hepner said it’s a “game changer” for reducing risk and helping residents of the city centre deal with high-risk social issues.

“I believe this approach will not only improve lives but save lives,” she said.