Prince George Fire Rescue, Prince George Bylaw Services and the RCMP will be conducting more patrols the downtown.
Prince George City Council approved the enhanced, collaborative patrols at Monday’s meeting.
“This initiative proposes the establishment of proactive patrols both on foot and vehicles to locate and document fires that are occurring, identify individuals responsible for dangerous fires downtown, and educate and enforce as appropriate against these instances,” said Acting Director of Administrative Services Eric Depenau.
These collaborative patrols will be conducted by one Bylaw Officer, one RCMP member, and one firefighter three times per week in the nighttime hours for four to six weeks.
“To me that is the really key component, that this services is going to be between 10:00 and 3:00 or 4:00 am,” said Councillor Ron Polillo.
“To me that’s really key, it’s a huge positive, and I think it’ll make a difference.”
According to the report that went before council on Monday, a bylaw ticket for an offence may be issued for the first and second instances, while the third instance may result in police recommending a criminal charge of mischief.
Mischief charges may also be recommended if an individual is found setting or maintaining a fire in a deliberately destructive manner.
“I would hope this would be more about fire education and fire mitigation rather than punishment and enforcement,” said Councillor Tim Bennett.
“I do personally have a few concerns that we’re going to be ticketing in particular our homeless population as an enforcement tool. That does not necessarily sit great with me, but what we’re doing now is not necessarily working.”
Depenau noted ticketing would be more for the repeating offenders who have been documented to have warnings or education on the topic.
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