The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association says they are excited by the news that the RNC is expanding in western Newfoundland.
Yesterday, Justice Minister John Hogan announced that the police force is expanding to communities in the Bay of Islands, the Town of Massey Drive, and communities in the Humber Valley as far east as Pasadena.
With the expansion, the association expects to see an increase in their membership, which would allow them to serve residents in their new jurisdictions and bolster numbers in the communities they already serve.
They note that recent Stats Canada numbers show that the crime severity index for the province has gone up by 6 per cent, and the crime rate for metro specifically has gone up by 19 per cent.
They are working with stakeholders to address the issues, and will continue to advocate for more resources for the force.
No Plans to Increase Police Budget
John Hogan
Justice Minister John Hogan says there are no plans to change the government budgets for either the RNC or the RCMP right now.
He notes that the RCMP’s budget was boosted by $17 million a few years ago, and the RNC’s allocation went up by $1 million last year, part of which went to 10 new officers.
He says they do, however, expect some up-front costs for the RNC as part of the transition, most notably for more vehicles.
