Nain Detachment , Labrador

CONTACT INFORMATION:
NCO I/C Nain RCMP Detachment
25 Ikajutauvik St.,
P.O. Box 220, Nain, NL.
A0P-1L0

LOCATION:
The Community of Nain is located approximately 300 kms north of Happy-Valley/Goose- Bay and is the administrative Headquarters of the Labrador Inuit Association. Nain is situated along the Labrador coastline.

Nain Detachment members are responsible for a large geographical area. This territory stretches from Voisey’s Bay to the Northern most tip of Labrador and west to the Quebec boarder. Nain’s coastal inlet reaches well into the community between beautiful rocky hills.

LOCAL POPULATION:

The local population is approximately 1,261 persons. The majority of inhabitants are Inuit or have some Inuit heritage. Nain has a secondary and elementary school from Kindergarten through to grade 12. Nain’s economy is heavily reliant on the local fish plant, fish harvest, 10 Mile Bay and Voisey’s Bay mining operations.

RCMP DETACHMENT:

The detachment consists of six regular members including a Sergeant in Charge. Five of the regular members are provincial positions administered under the Provincial Policing Services Agreement (PPSA) with one regular member designated as a First Nations Policing position administered under the First Nations Policing Policy (FNPP) of the Federal Ministry of Public Safety Canada (PS).

Nain Detachment also employees a part-time Public Servant who is the Administrative Assistant. Periodically Nain Detachment has employed summer students during the months of July and August. The detachment has a fleet of the following vehicles; one full-size crew-cab truck, one suburban, eight ski-doos and four ATVs. Generally the membership’s primary vehicle of operation is the ski-doo (approximately eight months of the year).

QUALITY SERVICE THROUGH COMMUNITY POLICING

Quality service by the RCMP is offered every day throughout Newfoundland and Labrador by partnering with the communities we police. Quality service is achieved through community policing and through strategic partnerships.

The three main activities of community policing are:
1) community-based problem solving;
2) crime prevention;
3) police-community relations.

These activities form an integrated approach that allows members of the RCMP and members of the communities they serve to resolve problems with mutually agreed-upon solutions, rather than primarily reacting to calls for police service. Through the use of CAPRA – the RCMP’s problem-solving analytical tool – strategies are developed to deal with the challenges communities face.

COMMUNITY-BASED PROBLEM SOLVING

Several groups are in place to deal with ongoing concerns or community projects. The following is a list of working groups which have been successful in addressing community challenges.

Community Consultative Group: This is a multi-agency, community inclusive committee consisting of representatives from the total spectrum of the community (youth, elders, professionals, etc.). The primary function of this committee is to share information, identify issues within the community, collectively discuss/develop potential solutions to these issues and follow through with whatever action is deemed appropriate by the group.

Ulapitsaijiet Steering Committee: This committee focuses on a broad range of social issues that impact the community. This committee is sponsored by Voisey Bay’s Nickel Corporation and has substantial financial resources capable of assisting the furtherance of local culture and community wellness. This committee consists of volunteers and professionals from every walk of life dedicated to identifying social problems and mutual solutions.

School Liaison Committee: This committee focuses on communication as its strength. The creation of stronger links and information sharing will further facilitate mutual problem solving. This committee is a strategic priority for the local school and they use Individual Student Support Programs ( I.S.S.P. ) for identifying and focussing on children/youth at risk

Family Resource Centre: The Family Resource Centre offers programs that assist clients who wish to enter the workforce, children at risk, and families in general. The Family Resource Centre provides services regarding parenting, nutrition, work experience, literacy, etc., to support families in the community.

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES:

Nationwide, members of the RCMP are involved in restorative justice processes, whether volunteering as facilitators or sitting on steering committees. Each community may embrace a different form of restorative justice, be it community justice forums, circle sentencing, or mediation.

Alternative Justice/Community Justice Forums (CJF): Nain presently has a CJF committee which focuses on the community delivering justice as opposed to the formal court process. In some cases, it may involve allowing parents or school facility to deal the matter instead of a formal court proceeding. Other alternatives may include education, cautioning, or having the violator dealt with by those affected by the incident. Investigators are encouraged and directed to consider a wide range of offenses for alternative measures based on the client’s needs and public’s interest. Currently, this committee is the only authorized community justice forum within Nain to deal with adult offenders. A Nain detachment member sits on this committee.

Extrajudicial Sanctions Committee (E’S): Nain has an EJS committee which fulfills the role of an alternative to the formal court process for youth. This committee determines appropriate justice for the youth. Once agreed upon the committee has the youth sign the agreement and makes them accountable for their actions. A Nain detachment member sits on this committee.

Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA): Nain members employee the YJCA when dealing with youth crimes. To decease the level of youth involvement in the criminal justice system, members routinely use verbal and written warnings under the YJCA to remedy situations.

CRIME PREVENTION

Members of the Nain RCMP are involved with a number of programs designed to prevent crime in our communities through both indirect and direct intervention. From school talks to youth initiatives and community safety plans, the goal of crime prevention programs is to target the root causes of potential criminal and social problems. Members of the RCMP are involved in the following initiatives:

Nain Crime Prevention Committee: The Nain Crime Prevention Committee identifies problems within the community and attempts to resolve them through addressing the root causes of the issue through environmental design. The Nain RCMP has a representative on this committee that attends meetings regularly and offers solutions to issues.

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE): This 10-week (primary prevention) program was developed by educational experts and is designed to provide Grade 5 and Grade 6 children with the skills they need to resist drugs, violence, and gangs. The Nain Detachment presently has two members trained in facilitating DARE programs. Both members require re-certification training due to recent amendments within the program’s modules.

School Liaison/visit program: Nain members liaise with schools regularly and are responsible for delivery of programs and presentations as requested. The primary focus of the Nain membership is to regularly visit the schools during lunch hours, breaks, and during schools hours to interact with students and participate in school activities. This reassures students that our mission is that of the school staff – to ensure a safe and harassment free learning environment. This addresses some of the issues pertaining to “bullying” within school environments. The Student for a Day program has been implemented so members can serve as good role models and demonstrate good classroom behavior through participation.

Drug Education, Prevention and Enforcement: The Nain detachment provides drug intelligence on suspected drug traffickers within their service area. This intelligence is inputted into our National Crime Data Bank (NCDB) and shared with all our partners in policing. This intelligence has led to the identification of drug traffickers in our area and successful searches for drug commodities and proceeds of crime (i.e. drug money).

Provincial Auxiliary Constable Program: Nain’s Auxiliary Constable program has enhanced service delivery to our clients in the past years. Nain is working toward identifying new candidates for the program. Currently, Nain has one Auxiliary Constable involved in the program. A replacement is being actively pursued as the present participant is unable to fulfill the positions requirements.

POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Bernard and Jeff Webb Hockey Tournament: The Nain RCMP, along with members from Goose Bay Detachment area represent the force in this annual memorial hockey tournament each year.

Minor Hockey: Nain RCMP members are actively involved in coaching minor hockey within the community at various levels. This mentoring through coaching relation assists in building bridges between the youth, as well as their parents.

QUALITY SERVICE THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Labrador Inuit Association (LIA): The Nain LIA is the Administrative Headquarters for the coast of Labrador. The Detachment Commander works with the president and vice president to share information on policing issues and identify any areas of concern.

• Other Volunteer work by spouses of RCMP members and members:
• Spouses of members have many skills which they offer to the community through employment, i.e., many are professionals (teachers, dental hygiene, clinic lab technician, social worker, etc.) and/or have employment skills conductive to benefitting the communities beyond their normal working hours.
• Children of members participate in many activities, such as hockey, school sporting activities, community events, etc. at a variety of different levels.
• Wives are leaders for “Browns and Sparks” girl groups.
• Wives participate in school programs such as the school breakfast program.
• Members volunteer to assist with other events such as the Nain Clinic Christmas dinner for elders.