If anyone needed a reminder that homelessness and mental health are problems that still cry out for community-wide solutions, Victoria Police Chief Frank Elsner provided it this week.
Elsner presented the results of a survey of 136 business owners about their thoughts on policing and safety. And not surprisingly, most of the owners brought up concerns that are social issues, not crimes.
The survey found that 75 per cent of those polled said homelessness was a major concern. Drugs and panhandling were raised by 71 per cent and mental-health problems by 52 per cent. Breaking and entering tallied only 32 per cent. Of the businesses鈥� main concerns, only drugs and break-ins are crimes.
As have many other police leaders, Elsner has consistently reminded anyone who will listen 鈥� and many who apparently won鈥檛 鈥� that his officers are spending far too much time doing social work that should be done by better-qualified professionals.
Most of the time, the homeless and the mentally ill don鈥檛 need a police officer, they need a home and health care.
The police get involved because the rest of society has failed to provide the supports that were needed and 鈥� in the case of mental health 鈥� promised.
Some strides have been made in setting up teams that combine police and mental-health professionals, but their work is largely reactive.
We have to deal with the problems at the source, by addressing the housing problem and ensuring treatment for the mentally ill.
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps has proposed a task force. It won鈥檛 help unless it prompts action. The problem requires the will in the community and at all levels of government to do more than put out fires.
