Vancouver safety meeting to address concerns of crime, violence

Vancouverites will have their say when it comes to public safety in the city Thursday.

A special council meeting focused on that topic is scheduled for the evening, with community groups being welcomed to share their thoughts on what’s happening.

According to Vancouver police, there’s been a rise in crime throughout the city, though their numbers are relatively similar from last year to this year so far. Despite this, many people have spoken out about their concerns in the community.

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At least nine groups are scheduled to speak Thursday. Among them is the Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre.

Executive Director Norman Leech feels layers of trauma are what is driving the reported rise in crime.

He says the pandemic has added to the pressure many people are facing — with some reaching a boiling point.

“You understand the four standard reactions to a traumatic situation are fight, flight, freeze, collapse. So we’re seeing a lot more of, unfortunately, the first one, fight. People have accumulated more trauma in this past two years than this generation has ever experienced,” Leech explained.

“There’s a trigger which lets it all out and then everyone around thinks it was an overreaction, but really it was a trigger event of a lot of stuff that had been piled up for two years, in some cases. So the more you understand about trauma, the more you’re prepared for that and not to react yourself for that trauma, and then you start a chain reaction which ends up in the community,” he told CityNews.

Leech tells CityNews he’s heard from people who have been victimized and feel increased anxiety right now.

Thursday’s meeting follows a motion passed in March calling for the city to come up with an action plan to address public concerns.

It also comes a day after a motion to install more CCTV cameras around the city was voted down by council.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. City staff have been directed to work with Vancouver Police to come up with an action plan, set to be out in June.