Hanover Council was given some information last night regarding the updated Hanover Police Service Business Plan for the coming three years.
Police Service Board Chair Don Smith said there is an 18 question public survey available now that will ask for Hanover resident’s opinions on a number of topics regarding Hanover Police Service.
“Where you think the Police Service should be going, what sort of areas we should be dealing with, is it the adequate size, should we be looking at other things? Those sorts of things are what we’re after," he said.
The Police Services Act requires all local police services to update their business plan every three years. The Hanover Police Service survey is available on the Hanover town website and can either be printed off or easily filled out online. There will also be public forums regarding the Hanover Police Service on September 25 and October 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Saugeen Room in Hanover.
Smith said there is always a specific goal in mind when the local police force reaches out to residents in this way.
“We’re trying to find if there’s changes we can make to provide adequate and effective policing to the community," he said. "We’re always open to suggestions and ideas that can make us better.”
Smith said the Hanover Police Service is healthy and in a good place right now, and that next year’s budget will be about the same as this year. He said despite many other local municipalities going to the OPP or amalgamating, that isn’t something being seriously discussed for Hanover, at least not right now.
“That doesn’t mean that we aren’t open to discussions or suggestions with amalgamations or even switching over to other services," he said. "But I think we have an excellent police service now, and it’s a service that provides great policing for this community.”