Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe signalled Thursday that a permanent anti-shoplifting program is being eyed, after a temporary initiative focusing on three Winnipeg neighbourhoods was extended to Dec. 31.
Wiebe confirmed 12 city police graduates — funded by the province — will soon join the campaign, which has been using existing officers on overtime since June.
“This is about transitioning to a more permanent solution and a more permanent program,” he told the Free Press.
Ruth Bonneville / Free Press Files
Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe: “This is about transitioning to a more permanent solution and a more permanent program.”
Wiebe said the government budgeted $3 million for the new officer positions. The funds were announced in February for 12 officers whose primary focus, at that time, was expected to be arresting suspects who’ve allegedly violated bail conditions, a justice spokesman confirmed.
The officers’ primary focus will now be foot patrols in the downtown area, the spokesman said.
Wiebe said the Winnipeg Police Service will continue to use overtime for “focused” retail theft enforcement through the holiday shopping period.
The province has budgeted almost $2 million for overtime. The initiative focuses on the Exchange District, Osborne Village and West End to curb thefts and prevent violence. It was initially extended to the end of October.
“We’ve seen a really positive impact in overall community safety,” said Wiebe.
WPS acting chief Art Stannard said the 12 officers will join the Division 11 (central) foot patrol unit, when their recruit class graduates in November.
“These new officers will help provide a visible presence to enhance the feeling of safety where the need is greatest,” he said in a statement.
The property crimes unit will do “focused” enforcement in shopping malls and theft hot spots over the holidays, said Stannard.
Crime or safety concerns have been cited in a number of recent store closures in Winnipeg. There have been examples of employees or customers taking matters into their own hands.
Police charged a William Avenue store employee who allegedly hit a shoplifter with a “large edged weapon” Oct. 12.
Wiebe said the the province doesn’t want anyone to put themselves at risk.
“We don’t want to see this happen,” he said.
People in Manitoba’s business community, meanwhile, are eager to see a permanent initiative.
“Ultimately, we would like to see a more permanent, across-Manitoba approach to retail crime issues, as we know criminals are mobile, and a co-ordinated provincial strategy is essential to creating safer and more secure stores in the longer term,” said John Graham, the Retail Council of Canada’s director of government relations for the Prairie region.
Earlier this month, the retail council hosted a summit to discuss how to tackle theft and underlying causes, including drug addiction and poverty.
Loren Remillard, president and chief executive officer of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, is hoping the extension leads to a conversation about a permanent program.
“We really need to have more certainty around this initiative over the long term,” he said.
Remillard said the chamber is receiving less frequent reports of thefts and violence against retailers in the three areas of focus.
Stannard said the initiative has helped to foster relationships between police and businesses.
Progressive Conservative justice critic Wayne Balcaen called on the NDP to expand the program to the rest of Winnipeg and other communities in Manitoba.
“This is very unfair for all of the other police services and businesses and organizations in Manitoba that are outside of those three hot spot areas, including the city of Winnipeg,” he said.
Balcaen raised concerns that retail crime could be pushed into other neighbourhoods amid a focus on specific areas.
Relying on overtime can lead to burnout for officers, he added.
Wiebe said the WPS uses data to respond to increases in crime or determine which neighbourhoods require an increased presence. He said the province is working on new crime-prevention measures for rural Manitoba.
Kate Kehler, executive director of the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, said governments can do more to prevent crime by increasing support for anti-poverty measures.
Enforcement campaigns are short-term solutions, she said.
“We’re nowhere near balanced in that approach,” said Kehler.
Wiebe and Premier Wab Kinew have said the province is committed to increasing social supports.
Reports of shoplifting (of items valued under $5,000) jumped by 45 per cent in 2023 compared with 2022, according to WPS data.
Chris Kitching
Reporter
Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris.
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