Sudbury police poll public on services, priorities

Police in Sudbury are again turning to the public for feedback as they design their business plan and set their priorities.

Every three years,police are bound by law to issue such aplan.

This year, theservice has hired Oraclepoll Research Limited tosurveyabout 600Sudburians. Issues include how to reduce non-violent crime, whether civilian employees could respond to non-violent crime,and whether people wouldpay more for service.

The poll is open to anyone in Sudbury, and there is a different questionnaire for business owners.

Staff Sergeant Craig Maki said,in the last police survey, people weighed in on what policing matters were of the most concern to them, and police took it seriously.

"In the last business planning process we had, we had reducing impaired driving and coming up with ideas on how to deal with that such as public education," he said.

"Now we go to schools, we talk to youth in high schools. Those are the types of ideas we're looking for."

In addition to the survey, police are also meeting with neighbourhood groups for feedback.

"Chief Pederson believes that community safety is a community responsibility," Makisaid.

"We can't do it ourselves. We're looking for help from various partnerships. That's why we're reaching out to all the local agencies that we can."

Makisaid a survey will also be done internally to see what police themselves think should be a priority.

A report that includes those survey resultswill be released in the spring.

Click here to take the Greater Sudbury Police Service survey.