MHPS ecstatic to receive funding boost for Victims of Crime Fund
By Jeremy Appel on October 20, 2018.
jappel@medicinehatnews.com @MHNJeremyAppel An inspector with the Medicine Hat Police Service says the provincial government’s Friday announcement that they’re boosting funding for the Victims of Crime Fund by $4.5 million is “fantastic.” Insp. Tim McGough says the increased funding “will ensure that the high demand that we have in the community for the victims’ services program will continue helping victims … and allow them to get the assistance and support that they need.” Specifically, he said the funds will allow MHPS to expand its victim support staff to three full-time positions from two full-time and one part-time. “Our team is extremely busy, because we provide a lot of extra support to our victims in this community,” McGough said. “This grant will help us provide services to address some of the complex needs of some of the victims who are survivors of things like domestic violence and other violent crimes.” The government’s announcement included a five-point plan for strengthening supports province-wide: — Increase funding for police-based victim services units; — Support for survivors of domestic violence; — Aiding victims in court by hiring more staff and upgrading testimonial aids, such as closed-circuit TV screens; — Expanding existing Indigenous Victims Outreach Services program to more communities; — Creating opportunities for restorative justice initiatives. According to a news release from the government, the funding will “nearly double” for police-based victim support services in seven municipalities — Edmonton, Calgary, Wood Buffalo, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. “This new funding announcement will have a huge, positive impact on the lives of victims of crime in Alberta,” said Brian Turpin, past president of the Alberta Police Based Victim Services Association. “The additional funding for victim service units across the province will afford them the ability to hire additional staff, as well as enhance the already indispensable services they currently offer toward supporting victims, survivors and their families.” Cindy English, the widow of Calgary murder victim George Steve English, said the support victims services offered her were “invaluable” after his 2009 death. “They listened to me through my grief, they picked up their phones day and night to answer my questions about court processes, and they sat beside me during the trial,” she said. “I don’t know where I would be today if it wasn’t for their help and guidance.” 18
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