N.L.'s new justice minister says Happy Valley-Goose Bay crime is a priority

Newfoundland and Labrador's new justice minister says the provincial government is working to improving police resources in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Bernard Davis told CBC News on Tuesday that he takes the community's concerns about crime seriously.

"Our priority is to keep everyone safe in the community, and that's what we're going to endeavour to do," said Davis.

"Issues in any community come around from time to time. This seems to be a little bit more of a longer-term issue, through talking with the municipality and members of council over the last number of days."

On Monday, Lake Melville MHAPerry Trimper told CBCNews the RCMPis getting a boost to resources in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, which will allow police to respond to calls 24 hours a day.

The news comes less than a week after a large-scale rally in the community in which hundreds of residents voiced their frustrations with crime after a local bar was burned to the ground and a man was charged with arson.

"Those are going to be boots on the ground visible in the community, which is an important piece," said Davis.

He said he's also asked the province's police transformation working group, which was launched in November to ensure effective and efficient policing, to look into how resources are allocated in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.Recommendations from the group will come within the next 45 days he said.

"We're going to, you know, look at all options we can," he said.

"Maybe there's opportunities for correctional officers or sheriffs to play a role to reduce the reliance on RCMP, which will leave the RCMP to do core policing activities in the region."

As an example, Davis pointed to RCMP officers used as escorts.

"When we're moving around inmates to, whether it be medical appointments or court appearances, do we have to use RCMP officers? Is there an opportunity for us to use sheriffs or correctional officers to do that valuable work?"

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