View From the Legislature

It has long been known that those who are committing crimes, whether the selling of drugs or stealing of property, are often operating in different locations both to sell and obtain drugs and goods. Illegally obtained weapons are also often moved between jurisdictions. This can at times pose a challenge for law enforcement as different regions are sometimes policed by different policing agencies.

The ability to have different policing agencies work together and share information in an integrated manner has not always been easy but is often the key to successful police operations. Several efforts in Manitoba both by the provincial government and local law enforcement show the importance and success of integrated policing.

In recent years, our provincial government has been forming the Manitoba Criminal Intelligence Centre (MCIC) to help lead a coordinated approach to policing through the sharing of information and analytics. This is a critical piece to ensuring that information that is being gathered from across the province is being shared in a way that has the greatest impact in preventing and disrupting criminal activity.

Also, our government recently announced funding for an integrated high risk warrant apprehension unit. This will be a cooperative unit made up of Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) and RCMP officers, with support from other agencies, dedicated to arresting high risk offenders who have outstanding warrants. It is another step to better integration of policing in Manitoba.

These types of efforts have shown results even recently. In November, the Brandon Police Service (BPS), released the results of what they called Project Banish. It was an interprovincial investigation of a cocaine trafficking cell. The investigation involved the BPS, WPS and the MCIC to name a few. This integrated effort resulted in the arrest of 10 individuals for drug trafficking in and around the Brandon area and the seizure of $450,000 of cash and 9 kilograms of cocaine. Police indicate that this is expected to have a significant impact on reducing violence, property crime and the distribution of drugs in the Brandon area.

As well, just last week, the RCMP reported on a joint policing operation with the Brandon Police Service and the Manitoba First Nation Police Services concentrated in the Portage la Prairie area. The Strategic Enforcement Response Team made up of officers from these three agencies, targeted repeat offenders in the central plains area resulting in the arrest of 13 people, and the seizure of meth, firearms, and other weapons. Again, the success of this operation was attributable to the efforts between law enforcement agencies.

Manitoba is fortunate to have dedicated men and women working in law enforcement across the province. The efforts to better share information and analytics only enhances the skills and the effectiveness of these officers. I commend and congratulate all those who have been involved in these recent collaborative projects and am optimistic about the impact these and other operations will have on the safety of our communities and province.