St. John’s N.L. (October 29, 2024) – Tony Wakeham, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and MHA for Stephenville – Port au Port, is once again raising concerns about the escalating crime rate in Newfoundland and Labrador following a recent meeting with municipal leaders from the Conception Bay North area.

"People in our communities are feeling vulnerable and our police services are stretched thin," said Wakeham.

"Community leaders are telling us that officers responding to calls often cannot provide the comprehensive investigation and support that residents deserve. The RCMP has documented an increase in calls over the past year; however, the Furey Liberals still have not acted to bolster community-based policing across the province."

Wakeham thanked the municipal leaders for a productive meeting where several urgent issues were raised. Among them were insufficient community policing resources and a critical shortage of mental health services, including the absence of a mobile mental health crisis unit. He also noted the municipal leaders’ longstanding frustrations over the lack of communication and clear direction from government departments, leaving communities without coordinated support.

"The Furey government must recognize that they are setting up our policing agencies to fail by not providing the essential resources for adequate service to all communities," added Wakeham.

"It's time for a proactive approach to crime prevention to ensure our communities' safety now and into the future."

A PC government led by Tony Wakeham would introduce a neighbourhood policing model in conjunction with municipal leaders in areas like Conception Bay North aimed at creating safer, more welcoming communities. In collaboration with the RNC and RCMP, this model would initially focus on high-frequency call areas and gradually expand to meet the needs of both urban and rural areas.