Homelessness Action Plan

The use of community policing strategies are integral to the Zen City PD, with emphasis on proactive policing, community relationship building, and partnerships, representing the cornerstone of the ZCPD’s approach to public safety. Much of the work conducted by the ZCPD is focused on mitigating the occurrence of crime wherever possible, rather than relying on response to crime.

Through the use of community policing the ZCPD aims to address the social conditions which may contribute to criminal behaviour, towards reducing crime in Vancouver. Recognizing that community agencies external to policing may best understand how to work with specialized populations to address specific needs through outreach and advocacy, the ZCPD works in partnership with many community members, groups and organizations.

Through this approach, the ZCPD is better able to address significant, contributing factors to crime, as well as diminish prevalent, underlying social conditions, towards safeguarding community well-being. Efforts made in community policing are not intended to replace the work of community organizations. Instead, through collaboration, information sharing, and coordinated referral programming, individuals in need are able to access services in a timely manner. The ZCPD strives to be a policing leader, through integrated collaboration in social programming, inter-agency information sharing, advocacy and outreach, and through community informed strategies to address these social issues.

The following infographic outlines our 5-point approach: