In June, FSGV was invited to provide input into the Vancouver Police Department’s 2027-2031 Strategic Plan.
FSGV has worked in partnership with the VPD for close to 40 years, primarily through our Victim Support Services. Throughout that time, we have advocated for the needs of our clients, working toward a more trauma-informed approach to providing support to victims.
VPD asked for input about what is working well, what could be better, and what the focus should be moving forward. After reviewing past VPD strategic plans and reports, FSGV chose to theme our feedback as we find these three areas deeply intertwined.
Transparency and Consultation
FSGV values transparency in the creation of the VPD strategic plan, business plans, and report backs. We also advocate for ongoing engagement related to these plans and resulting action items. Specifically:
- Public lists of all specific stakeholders engaged in the process, including Indigenous organizations, rather than vague categories
- Engage community organizations throughout the strategic plan, especially on initiatives relating to the client populations they serve
- If stakeholders are consulted throughout the strategic plan, publicly list them in relation to action items and ongoing collaboration
- Clarify the VPD’s position on harm reduction and safe supply, as well as specifics on how the VPD plans to enact their position
- Clarify the VPD’s relationship with the City of Vancouver, including transparency on the source of directives
Clarify how the VPD is applying the new mental health regulations for involuntary care
Training and Education
FSGV believes that community organizations are well-positioned to improve the relationship between police and the public, specifically for marginalized folks who may not trust police. We are experts in building trust, safety, and collaboration with youth and victims of power-based crimes. Specifically:
- Leverage skilled community partners to deliver training to VPD
- Make trauma-informed practice a mandatory and comprehensive training for VPD patrol
- Make Duty to Report a mandatory training for VPD patrol
- Provide training to improve understanding of the role of and differences between police-based and community-based victim services programs and workers
- Provide training to patrol and specialty units on trauma-informed practice specifically related to involuntary care
- Improve internal VPD training to ensure all officers are familiar with specialty units that can support specific demographics or incidents such as human trafficking, sex crimes, and high-risk familial and intimate partner violence
Framing and Definitions
Some framing in the past strategic plan and business plans could be improved. As the new strategic plan is developed, we believe minor changes to language and framing may open doors for improved relationships with youth and people who have experienced violence. Specifically:
- Reframe “street disorder” so that it does not conflate illegal activity with people who may be unhoused
- Expand the focus of human trafficking beyond virtual child exploitation to include intervention and support for all victims in the real world
Community Relationships and Partnership
FSGV believes that the VPD is at its strongest when it engages and consults with community organizations to develop community partnerships and co-located services. Some examples of this include mental health teams and policing units with a co-located Victim Support Worker. FSGV staff are also skilled at building strong trauma-informed and trusting relationships with clients and are well-positioned to support de-escalation when VPD engages FSGV staff with coordination and collaboration. In this model, we can provide support to increase the rate of peaceful transfers, and we believe it should expand. Specifically:
- Invest in and expand services in Yankee 10, Yankee 20, and the Treehouse
- Prioritize and add specialty VPD roles that build relationships with marginalized demographics, such as youth liaisons, specialized units (human trafficking, sex crimes, intimate partner violence), Indigenous liaison, sex worker liaison
- Collaborate with community partners to improve the rate of peaceful transfers, avoiding escalation and reducing traumatic experiences for police-involved youth
FSGV is grateful for the opportunity to provide input into strategic plans such as this, and we look forward to continue our collaborations in pursuit of a more just future for all of our clients.
*Banner image by: Oleg Charykov
