CMNCP launches its first of four action briefs outlining why to invest in crime prevention in municipalities

Safer Cities Action Briefs, CMNCP in the News

The Canadian Municipal Network on Crime Prevention (CMNCP) in partnership with experts from the University of Ottawa is launching a new series of briefs to share the latest evidence on crime prevention.

The first brief shares the evidence that investments in families and youth, school curricula, and problem-solving policing before young persons get involved in crime are cost effective crime prevention. The brief identifies some cities in Canada and abroad that have achieved large reductions in crime by adapting the evidence to solve their city-wide crime problems. It provides mayors, city councilors, city managers, police leaders and other stakeholders a concrete set of recommended actions for their municipalities to realize the prevention dividend.

Read the Media Release Below.

Click here to access the Action Brief.


Media Release

CMNCP provides decision makers with evidence to invest in crime prevention in municipalities

The Canadian Municipal Network on Crime Prevention (CMNCP) in partnership with experts from the University of Ottawa is launching a new series of briefs to share the latest evidence on crime prevention. The briefs quickly provide easy access to the knowledge and a short list of actions for making cities safer.

“We have accumulated significant evidence that investments in pre-crime prevention have been more effective and cost effective in preventing crime than the standard reactive model of police, courts and corrections” says University of Ottawa Professor Irvin Waller.

The first action brief shares the evidence that investments in families and youth, school curricula, and problem-solving policing before young persons get involved in crime are cost effective crime prevention. The reductions in crime are often of 50% or more within just a few years. This means avoiding pain and suffering to victims and potentially saving taxpayers money. The brief identifies some cities in Canada and abroad that have achieved large reductions in crime by adapting the evidence to solve their city-wide crime problems. It provides mayors, city councilors, city managers, police leaders and other stakeholders a concrete set of recommended actions for their municipalities to realize the prevention dividend.

In 2016, the evidence supports the benefits and significant return on investment from prevention. Some studies show a return of $4 and more for every $1. Further, pre-crime prevention is popular as 60% of Canadians support investment in crime prevention over more spending on law enforcement.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has noted that “unsustainable increases in policing costs are crowding out early intervention and prevention”. With this in mind, CMNCP aims to disseminate the accumulated knowledge on crime prevention and encourage all orders of government to shift to making these smart investments.

The Canadian Municipal Network on Crime Prevention (CMNCP) is a network of 17 municipalities representing about 35% of Canada’s population that is working towards greater investment in tackling the root causes of crime and violence. CMNCP is committed to the greater use of effective and collaborative crime prevention strategies.

The action briefs are produced by crime prevention specialists at the University of Ottawa, led by Professor Waller. These action briefs are funded through CMNCP’s three-year project Building Municipal Capacity to Harness Evidence to Prevent Crime, funded by Public Safety Canada.