City to partner with national agency to protect children from sexual predators
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/11/2015 (3045 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Plans are progressing for a groundbreaking partnership between the City of Winnipeg and a national non-profit agency devoted to protecting children from sexual predators.
The city’s work with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection is expected to result in new policies and practices put in place at civic facilities that will assist staff on how to detect technological developments being misused by child predators for voyeuristic purposes and to detect predatory behaviour by individuals loitering at facilities and how to respond to those situations.
“The goal is to put together a plan to prevent child victimization within aquatic centres and recreation and leisure facilities and libraries,” Noni Classen, director of education with the CCCP, told councillors on a civic committee Friday morning.
The partnership with the CCCP and the city was first proposed earlier this year by Coun. Jeff Browaty, in response to the conviction of a local radio personality who had admitted to planting a digital recording device at the Pan Am pool over a six-month period.
The city adopted a policy in 2005 that prohibits the use of recording devices in all change rooms and locker rooms in city-owned and operated recreation, leisure and community centre facilities.
“Winnipeg will be the leader in this,” Classen said, adding it’s the first time the agency has worked with a municipal government to mitigate risk and protect children in public facilities.
Through a working group with the agency and civic administration, all of the civic pools have been assessed and a specific work plan will be developed for aquatic facilities. Classen said later phases will involve similar plans for recreational centres and libraries.
Classen said the agency found the city has policies and procedures in place that can be strengthened.
“We’ll be able to use what exists and augment certain policies with a child-protection perspective.”
Classen said the plan will determine who needs to be trained at the facilities, identifying the risk areas and putting systems in place to prevent voyeuristic activities.
“There’s a lot that goes on in terms of supervising for swimming safety that can be used also for surveillance and accountability for individuals interacting with kids within the facilities,” Classen said. “We’ll be doing some training with staff to build up their capacity to handle (situations).”
The plan will also include a public relations campaign to build awareness among patrons, like staff, she said, to be alert to potential predatory situations and to bring that to the attention of civic staff.
An update will be brought to the protection, community services and parks committee in March.
Classen said it’s hoped new training procedures and policies will be in place before the start of the city’s summer swimming schedule.
aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca