RCMP Press Release July 9
At the Kamloops detachment, their Crime Reduction initiative includes all parts of the policing challenges before the RCMP. The 'Diversion' program is a small part in the on-going partnerships between the RCMP in Kamloops and its community stakeholders. In May of 2008, the Kamloops City RCMP began an undercover operation rounding up and arresting several women in the sex trade industry. Traditionally, these women would have only gone through the court process, almost guaranteeing their return to the streets after they are released. With the more comprehensive approach of a diversion program, various community groups and partners including the RCMP, the City of Kamloops, Probation Office, Interior Health, Canadian Mental Health Association and other social services agencies, have all come together to create an exiting program for sex trade workers.
The arrested women during this sting operation were given the choice to either face the judicial system, or enter a rehabilitation centre. They are given the opportunity to turn their lives around and receive whatever care and assistance they require to remove themselves from the streets. After the arrests, the women are individually interviewed by Cpl. McWilliam and their options are discussed. She says that most of them are ready to quit the lifestyle, but some still need convincing. The women who chose to enter a rehabilitation centre go through the Adult Addictions Supportive Housing Program (AASH) at the House of Ruth in Kamloops. This residential program for women, funded by the Canadian Mental Health Association, is a 90-day supportive recovery program from substance addictions. The women live at the House of Ruth during the entire 90 days, wherein they are supported from withdrawal and assisted with planning their return to the community. Cpl. McWilliam says that some of these women are working the streets purely for financial reasons. “Not all of them suffer from an addiction, but are still given the option to admit themselves into the House of Ruth for case management assistance. All we can do is tell them about the programs that are available and they have to make the decision for themselves. At least we have planted the seed.”
Sgt. Scott Wilson, Kamloops RCMP Media Relations Officer adds that, “this initiative not only benefits these women, but also the entire community of Kamloops. We have to start at the root of why they are on the streets, which always involves some type of addiction.” After two waves of rounding up these women, 15 have been arrested with 6 having chosen to go through the rehabilitation program. Insp. Yves Lacasse, Operations Officer at Kamloops City RCMP says, “we don’t know how we will measure the success of this initiative. But if our job as police officers is to decrease the number of street workers going back to this lifestyle and choosing to become positive contributors to the community, then even a single person doing that after the program will deem everyone’s efforts to be a success”.
At the Kamloops detachment, their Crime Reduction initiative includes all parts of the policing challenges before the RCMP. The 'Diversion' program is a small part in the on-going partnerships between the RCMP in Kamloops and its community stakeholders. In May of 2008, the Kamloops City RCMP began an undercover operation rounding up and arresting several women in the sex trade industry. Traditionally, these women would have only gone through the court process, almost guaranteeing their return to the streets after they are released. With the more comprehensive approach of a diversion program, various community groups and partners including the RCMP, the City of Kamloops, Probation Office, Interior Health, Canadian Mental Health Association and other social services agencies, have all come together to create an exiting program for sex trade workers.
The arrested women during this sting operation were given the choice to either face the judicial system, or enter a rehabilitation centre. They are given the opportunity to turn their lives around and receive whatever care and assistance they require to remove themselves from the streets. After the arrests, the women are individually interviewed by Cpl. McWilliam and their options are discussed. She says that most of them are ready to quit the lifestyle, but some still need convincing. The women who chose to enter a rehabilitation centre go through the Adult Addictions Supportive Housing Program (AASH) at the House of Ruth in Kamloops. This residential program for women, funded by the Canadian Mental Health Association, is a 90-day supportive recovery program from substance addictions. The women live at the House of Ruth during the entire 90 days, wherein they are supported from withdrawal and assisted with planning their return to the community. Cpl. McWilliam says that some of these women are working the streets purely for financial reasons. “Not all of them suffer from an addiction, but are still given the option to admit themselves into the House of Ruth for case management assistance. All we can do is tell them about the programs that are available and they have to make the decision for themselves. At least we have planted the seed.”
Sgt. Scott Wilson, Kamloops RCMP Media Relations Officer adds that, “this initiative not only benefits these women, but also the entire community of Kamloops. We have to start at the root of why they are on the streets, which always involves some type of addiction.” After two waves of rounding up these women, 15 have been arrested with 6 having chosen to go through the rehabilitation program. Insp. Yves Lacasse, Operations Officer at Kamloops City RCMP says, “we don’t know how we will measure the success of this initiative. But if our job as police officers is to decrease the number of street workers going back to this lifestyle and choosing to become positive contributors to the community, then even a single person doing that after the program will deem everyone’s efforts to be a success”.
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