Vancouver’s police department voiced support this week for Victoria Police Chief Del Manak’s call for the province to consider staggering the distribution of welfare cheques.
“Generally speaking, we see a spike during the evening of welfare Wednesday and the day or two after of overdose calls, disturbances, drug activity occurring. Sometimes someone has been defrauded or robbed,” Police Chief Del Manak told the Times Colonist.
In a letter to Shelia Taylor, deputy minister of social development and poverty reduction, last month Manak said the spike in calls “taxes emergency service resources, many of whom are already operating at or beyond capacity.”
While there were no concrete numbers available, Vancouver police spokesperson Const. Jason Doucette said the department sees a noticeable increase in calls for service the day, and following days, welfare cheques are paid out.
The department voiced its support on social media, tweeting: “#VPD supports @vicpdcanada Chief Manak on his call to stagger welfare cheques. First raised by the VPD five years ago, the Department still believes it would have a positive effect on public safety by reducing the strain on resources on cheque day & the immediate days following.”
#VPD supports @vicpdcanada Chief Manak on his call to stagger welfare cheques. First raised by the VPD five years ago, the Department still believes it would have a positive effect on public safety by reducing the strain on resources on cheque day & the immediate days following.
— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) March 1, 2018
With files from Katie DeRosa/Times Colonist
@JessicaEKerr
