“Defund the police” is a slogan that supports divesting funds from police departments and reallocating them to non-policing forms of public safety and community support, such as social services, youth services, housing, education, healthcare and other community resources.
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@8NZGK76Conservative4yrs4Y
Funding needs to be based on the area. Funding also needs to be assigned to social and community programs to help reduce crime and in turn can lead reduced spending foe the police
@8PTVYLW4yrs4Y
No, police should instead be trained to respond in non-violent situations in order to mitigate police issues
@8Q2GXXR4yrs4Y
Agreed. The main counter-argument with this is that cops get paid highly and it wastes their time. If you consider those social workers are paid around 15k less per year than cops, and if this was implemented, cops would be paid 15k higher a year for their additional abilities to control violent mentally ill patients better and considering that social workers would have to call the cops anyways in that situation, you are actually saving money!
@8PBTPZ64yrs4Y
the funding should be split between the social and community based programs and the local police departments
@8Q2GXXR4yrs4Y
Agreed. Depending on how though. 50/50 is not going to happen. But 70/30 makes a lot of sense. I also think that we should scoop in funding from social welfare and put it into police and mental health. The left is all about fixing problems like crime before they happen, that's why they like funding mental health. So instead of funding social welfare, let's fund mental health and crime prevention, things that prevent poverty.
@8PCS6ML4yrs4Y
increase funding for unarmed, community officer intergration while mainatining funding for current police programs
@8Q2GXXR4yrs4Y
Agreed. But where do we get that funding from? Decrease the scandals from both the prime minister funding huge corporations for no reason. Decrease social welfare and put them into crime prevention so we can prevent poverty, creating no need for social welfare. Liberals have a certain line of thinking that sometimes conflicts with eachother. I honestly do think I have liberal values but agree with the conservative party's policies (not on the environment though).
@8FY4NBW5yrs5Y
Police department funding should be left in the power of municipal governments.
@8Q2GXXR4yrs4Y
Not if you have a crazy city council in Toronto who got rid of 30 percent of the police force in March which created all-time highs in crime. But in general I do agree it should be left for municipal governments. Just had to smash some of our politicians today.
@98RPW682yrs2Y
I think funding should be distributed amongst the police department and social/community based programs. A collaborative approach should be developed to better respond to a variety of needs in the community.
Yes, redirect SOME funding toward better social programs for non-violent offences.
@8KG75SD4yrs4Y
No, diversify the training which police constables get, and create more community based initiatives and teams to foster healthy relations between the people and police.
@9F2MK7G2yrs2Y
Remove community policing powers from the RCMP, community policing should be provincial and local responsibilities
@9DWFG682yrs2Y
Yes. Fund real education programs, de stigmatize and legalize drugs responsibly and prioritize prosecuting real criminals for violent offenses
@B4NK72P4 days4D
I think the police need more funding, and that they shouldn’t be used as the fix all for every scenario. Some issues would be better resolved with therapists or negotiators or other specialists
@B4MYRBK5 days5D
Police and community-based responders should work together, with funding going to both police departments as well as community support
Increase or continue funding and add branches to existing police to include trained mental health workers and other
Add more social workers, counsellors, mental health nurses to attend low risk calls - police should still attend every call. And have police do additional trauma informed mental health education
@B4KR9Y81wk1W
Increase funding for social community based policing within current police force. We need better officers and the right people dispatched for certain types of calls.
@B4HHJ361wk1W
No, but there should be more social workers and other trained responders available for metal health needs
@B4DTFC42wks2W
Funding for police to be trained in combat without the use of a firearm when the use of fire arm is unnecessary if cops know how to defend themselves they would react so quickly to resort to weapons. And definitely 100% fund community based programs change the youth of the future.
@B4BJ3B83wks3W
Yes, but only slightly and money should be directed to social programs to help with mental health, drug use and outreach.
@B47QV8V3wks3W
There should be investments into social and community based programs without removing funding from police
@B46DY7T3wks3W
Depends how funding is being allocated, I believe that police departments should get funding but we don't need to allocate this into militarizing them.
@B463CZJ4wks4W
No, increase funding and training for police and implement social and community based programs designed to help the police and the public
While social based programs should be prioritized, local police departments funding shouldn't be completely redirected.
@B454V2D4wks4W
This is an extremely complicated topic...but for now, the solution is not removing police funding. Funding for community-based response trials should be granted, but an entire overhaul of our response system, transportation regulations, and interagency cooperation would need to occur to have any real effect.
@B3ZDSYR1mo1MO
Police should be funded, however we also need psychologically trained professionals to respond appropriately to non violent calls.
@B3NW9VMNew Democratic1mo1MO
higher skilled and better trained police officers with a majour culture change in poliicing is important to a sustabiale and stable commuities
@B3H825K2mos2MO
I believe we could redirect some of that funding while also implementing stricter guidelines for becoming a police officer. I do not believe we should significantly defund the police as that creates a dangerous environment.
@B3GFMP72mos2MO
No- just increase the funding to social and community based programs without affecting the police funding
Focus more on solving the root cause and prioritize nurturing the youth to prevent crime from even happening.
@B3FVXLV2mos2MO
If the police can prevent regular stabbings and shootings, then I think they deserve the funding. However, the news suggests otherwise.
@B3FV4ZD2mos2MO
I personally think police get paid large amounts of money… maybe adjusting their pay increase each year, and ensuring the money is being allocated to beneficial community programs within the city.
@B3FQZNN2mos2MO
No, this is not even about the crime. It goes in the direction of strengthening the military potential of Canada. People who are trained to respond to violence are an additional asset.
@B3F2G6X 2mos2MO
Funding should be re-allocated to include not only standard training for police but also de-escalation training, thorough psych evaluations and community support workers for non-violent calls.
@B3DWW6J2mos2MO
I agree that both need to exist to help the community, they should look at taking from other sources rather than the Police force.
@B3C952M2mos2MO
Police should be funded but more money should be allocated to social programs for non-violent crimes
@B3BG8LB2mos2MO
Funding for social programs is important but should not be conditional of the funding or defunding of the police. These two pieces need to work together and complement one another.
@B39DTY72mos2MO
No, police need better training and more internal investigation to ensure there is minimum corruption.
@B386JBW 2mos2MO
Over policing doesn’t stop crime or fix the crime rate. There are issues with immigration, the judicial system ect. This is an important issue, but it’s more complex than the answers provide
@B37ZXR22mos2MO
No, this has been attempted in the recent past and was a colossal failure. Invest in better training and incentivize the career so the quality of applicants naturally increases.
@B36TY682mos2MO
Police should not be completely abolished, but if they are receiving significantly more funding than social and community-based programs, some money should be reallocated towards these programs.
@B35MZKS2mos2MO
Put funding in the right place in policing. Stop funding pointless stuff like horses in the police departments. Focus on taking down sex traffickers, human traffickers, murders, rapists, terrorists, etc.
@B35G8QW2mos2MO
No, however I believe that police should be trained better and have more non-lethal weapons at their disposal. For example in the UK every day police officers are not armed with guns and they have a special armed unit for rare cases.
@B355JWJ2mos2MO
Police should partner with mental healthcare and addiction services. Funding should be split where extra resources are needed
@B33R9GVNew Democratic2mos2MO
Dont redirect all of it, but yes up the funding for social programs that will decrease the need for police
@B32LMFG2mos2MO
I think that we should split it evenly unless really needed, since some police departments get more funding then needed
@B32CB8K2mos2MO
I think there should be social programs but police cannot go away, crime will increase if we do this
@B324X4F2mos2MO
There should be a balanced amount of funding for both police departments and social and community based programs.
@B323CG42mos2MO
Yes, partially, the police still need some level of funding but funding other social and community based programs would ease some of the burdens and minimize incidents of police violence and abuse of power
@B2ZZ8YS2mos2MO
Some funding should be redirected so that nonviolent calls can be safely handled without a militarized police presence
@B2X8V2K2mos2MO
No, But there should be better police training on how to deal with a situation without the use of violence, but police are needed to maintain order and provide safety and protection.
@B2WM99B2mos2MO
he funding should be split between the social and community based programs and the local police departments fairly.
@B2W3G2B2mos2MO
i believe there should be an off shoot of police officers who are sent alongside in case of a persons
crisis. though i do believe both parties should be armed with lethal and non lethal tools and devices in case of a risk to the officer and crisis handlers life .
@B2VWCWJ2mos2MO
No, but increase funding for social workers, and mental health professionals that work alongside police.
@B2VVFRQ2mos2MO
increase funding and training and increase social and community based programs. require local police departments to enforce traffic laws.
@B2VP4JZ2mos2MO
funding should not be redirected, but there should be more funding available for social and community based programs on top of police budget
@B2VMYZP2mos2MO
Police enforcement is definitely necessary. But de-escalation training and training on non violent interventions are necessary
@B2VF4BF2mos2MO
Yes, and increase funding and training for unarmed community based responders for non-violent calls.
Police should be split between law enforcement and social workers. Expecting one profession be tasked with both is unwarranted and dangerous
@B2TV7GG2mos2MO
Add social assistant workers to help police and train police helpers like we did for different grades of nurses. So add more categories of policing.
@B2SXRKS2mos2MO
There should be incread funding for both local police departments and social and community based programs
@B2SWHMS2mos2MO
No, but the training, certification and psychological testing should be improved to require a higher standard
@B2SS7BF2mos2MO
Add funding for social programs, to reduce crime. Then more funding can be redirected from police services
@B2S7SLC2mos2MO
Local police should still be funded, but also they need more training in dealing with non-violent calls. More funding should go to social and community based programs to assist with the police. We need both, it's not an either/or issue.
@B2S6DST2mos2MO
somewhat. I think we need police but that we also need more funding for social and community based programs
@B2Q2PLC3mos3MO
yes and increase the funding for social services and support, youth and mental health to decrease wait lists for access to services
@B2PRLX93mos3MO
Redirect some but also fund training for officers so they can de-escalate instead of resorting to violence
@B2PMF3Y3mos3MO
Yes, and ensure that existing police systems are educated in regard to non violent crimes and social justice issues. Additionally police should be required to have a professional college for regulation and have liability insurance to help prevent excessive force and unfair legal practices.
@B2MZLYR3mos3MO
Put more funding into training police in handling delicate situations that will result in less tension/negative effects (e.i dealing with autistic individuals, minority groups, etc)
@B2LZCJT3mos3MO
The current police force is undereducated and quick to violence. Check the background and psych of the police officers in training and weave them out. Provide more education to the police officers.
@B2L42TM3mos3MO
No, we should adopt an intelligence led policing and increase funding and training for police department. But we should abolish the police warrior mentality and eliminate the hostility towards civilian population the proper role of police is to protect and serve.
@B2J775M3mos3MO
Local Police departments should be working with social/community-based programs, as well as medical professionals to ensure the public's safety as well as the individuals. Additionally, there should be more training for police, and mandatory economic, physical & psychological reviews, to ensure they are not at risk of becoming dirty, and still serve the public regardless of ethnicity, medical situation, or economic status.
@B2F7P9B3mos3MO
Not enough social programs where in place to prevent crime, so we need the police. What we should do, it's not use the police for things they are not able to handle due to lack of training. Police should be used unless it may become violent.
@B2CVPM43mos3MO
Maintain current police funding (no increase). Increase funding for mental healthcare workers to accompany police when doing safety checks or responding to domestic calls.
@B29BM443mos3MO
Increase and monitor police funding, more training more mental health support and high hiring standards, but also allocate funds for mental health teams
@B293PLF3mos3MO
Reform police departments to be trained better in situations and more de-escalating training. Also improve funding for social and community based programs.
@9ZZX9XB4mos4MO
Be like Norway and dedicate a chunk of land to ‘prisoners’, give them a job and roommates. They’ll come out of ‘prison’ with a better attitude if you show them how they should be living/treated
@9ZZPF5K4mos4MO
Both police and community based programs are important. One should not lose funding to support the other.
@9ZZDN9Y4mos4MO
I think a certain proportion of the funding should go to community development programs ie mental health services, poverty relief, food banks etc
@9ZNZZY85mos5MO
No, increase funding and training for police constables and fund the hiring of social service workers to assist police in domestic calls.
@9ZLDVNL5mos5MO
No don’t increase or decrease funding yet. Onloy increase or decrease depending on the crime rate. Considering tighter gun laws and drug laws, we may be able to decrease funding until crime spikes again.
@9ZKZ8TL5mos5MO
Do not cut funds but add a health professional for call on mental health. Or have a trained police always with a mental health expert
@9ZGQ7355mos5MO
No, it’s going to be misspent anyways, my aswell make sure it’s going to keep us safe than to be thrown away to the poor
@9ZDD7FV5mos5MO
No, it shouldn't be taken from the police departments. But definitely increase funding through other means.
We need a combination of a rebuilt police system (there’s too much violence and gender inequality) and community-based responders for non-violent calls. I don’t think the police should be armed with deadly force. I think there needs to be more consideration for mental health in non-violent crimes.
@9YHS46P5mos5MO
We should not take away most of police funding. However, social programs should be correctly funded as it’s become an issue among society
@nt24216mos6MO
More mental health workers for non-violent calls (crisis teams/addictions outreach workers), but unsure about police funding. These workers should be able to take non-violent people to the psych ER without the person needing to go in the back of the police car.
@9WSS4QB6mos6MO
A serious overhaul is required of all local police departments, starting with an audit of their funding and where it goes. Additionally, an in-depth review of the police officers currently serving their communities should be complete on every level to ensure no one is abusing their power. Lastly, add an unarmed community-based contingent with medical professionals for non-violent calls.
@9WPFJ7W6mos6MO
No. Police funding should be unchanged, but additional funding should be directed to social and community based programs.
@9WBH4S76mos6MO
I don't think we need to defund the police in order to fix social communities. I think we need to train out departments better
@9W6Y4BF6mos6MO
I don't think it would be right to just defund the police however I don't think we need to fund them more than we are. I think if anything we can take a bit off of police funding.
No but more funding needs to be provided for social and community programs. Also, policing needs to change to allow for community based responders to deal with non-violent calls. There should be a partnership with the 2.
@9VDXJVD7mos7MO
Yes, add unarmed community social workers to respond to non-violent calls and free up police to deal with violent or more serious crimes.
@9V988CD7mos7MO
I think decrease the funding and put it towards social and community programs, but do not completely get rid of funding towards police.
@9V7L6BP7mos7MO
Police should be funded and trained according to the crime rate and needs of the community. Alongside this, community programs should also be established.
@9TYSP557mos7MO
If we took the mentally ill people off the streets, we would not have this problem, but we need to hold police to a higher standard, they need to concentrate more on crime not on drug addicts and the mentally ill which can be the same thing.
@9TQ5P3T7mos7MO
No, but restructure the police to include more humanitarian training to combat the apparent focus on flexing power to enforce the law
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