Orangeville Banner
Register User
Close

Inglewood residents and police talk crime
Friday August 8 2008
By Robyn Wilkinson, for the Banner
 
Caledon OPP officers were both criticized and praised by area residents during an information meeting last week about vandalism and mischief issues at the Inglewood branch of the Caledon Public Library.
The July 30 meeting, organized by the Policing Advisory Council of Caledon (PACC) and OPP to hear and respond to residents’ concerns on crime, drew less than 20 residents.
“We can boast that Caledon is the safest community in Canada because of the partnership with the community, the police and elected officials,” PACC chair Kevin Junor said.
On the minds of some in the audience was frustration with what they say appears to be a lack of visible police presence.
“We would love to see more police presence,” Belfountain resident Betty Burgoyne said.
“In my opinion there isn’t enough, not nearly enough.”
Increasing police resources is one tool to fighting crime, however, it comes with a steep price tag and doesn’t necessarily mean mischief will end, police pointed out.
“It depends on how much you want to spend on policing,” said OPP Staff Sergeant Greg Sweeney of the costly effort that would increase taxes.
A first class constable can cost upwards of $100,000, police said.
“A lot of policing has to do with the community and how to help police solve and treat problems,” Sweeney said.
“We depend on citizens in the community to stand up and provide information as witnesses. People know exactly who it is that is doing it. Witnessing and not saying something doesn’t prevent the crime in the town from happening, it just perpetrates it.”
The best time for police to make an arrest is when criminal activities are happening, the officers pointed out. They encouraged residents to phone in with their concerns.
Another issue on the mind of residents is the amount of mischief that’s been happening in the small community.
Everything from paint on garage doors to burning bags of feces was brought to the attention of officers.
Residents said they believe teenage mischief-makers are causing the damage in the community.
“That is what we get called about a lot,” Randall responded. “Is it rampant? No — but it is the call we get the most, but it’s not all teenagers, it’s young adults as well.”
Residents wanted to know what is being done to engage Caledon’s youth and what programs are in place for youth in the community.
Community Relations Officer Linda Kennedy pointed out that the Town of Caledon operates the Flipside skateboard park and Mobile Youth Services, which travel across the Town to communities like Inglewood, offering a variety of gaming activities to occupy youths until 9 p.m.
“It gives them something to do from 5 to 9 p.m. and that’s probably what’s happening here, parents probably aren’t saying ‘be home at 9:05’,” Kennedy said.
However, some residents said that video games and ping pong is not the answer. Children need more community activities to expel their energy on.
Frank Guzzo, a Bolton business owner and Palgrave resident, defended the police.
“We can’t blame the police for what’s happening,” said Guzzo, whose business has been vandalized repeatedly by graffiti in the past.
“Parents ought to know where their children are.”