View Safe Streets Act: http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_04075_01
What is the purpose of this act?
What powers are conferred on the state or its agents?
How does this act benefit society?
List governmental and community based agencies that work within this legislated act.
What issues may be associated with the administration of this act?
How would you support and advocate for your clients in relationship to this act?
Burnside-Gorge provides a Life Skills Certificate Program for youth ages 15-19, which covers topics such as human rights, suicide prevention, sexual health, self awareness, fitness and health, problem solving, and job skills. The human rights portion would benefit my clients in understanding what is acceptable behaviour, and what is not.
PEERS has a major piece of enhancing street safety for the people working outside. It is a place where information on violence and violent people is exchanged, health and safety education takes place, and reports of violent customers/bad dates can be collected to be passed on to the police.
Describe and explain current or historical events as seen through the media that relate to this act, convention or charter. Provide a related link or copy of a newspaper article.
Squeegee Kids fight discriminatory law
By Sabitri Ghosh, Catholic New Times, March 11, 2001
In this article, Birdsell explains what the Safe Streets Act means in legal terms. "It does basically three things: it puts limits against panhandling; it basically makes squeegeeing against the law; and it makes throwing used condoms, broken glass or needles away illegal. The government would say the reason is they're concerned about traffic safety and people not being bothered. It's monitoring public space so that people who use the streets don't feel harassed or in fear."
What is the purpose of this act?
- To protect the general public from solicitors. Solicitors are described within the Act as people whom solicit, which is defined as using the spoken, written, or printed word, a gesture of other means for the purpose of receiving money or another thing of value, regardless of whether consideration is offered or provided in return.
What powers are conferred on the state or its agents?
- A peace officer may arrest without warrant any person who the peace officer believes on reasonable and probable grounds is committing an offense under this Act.
- This Act is closely tied to the local police departments, by disobeying this Act, the solicitor is disobeying the law, and will therefore face consequences.
How does this act benefit society?
- By protecting people’s individual freedom and safety from bring harassed in public spaces. Because the spaces are in fact public, it leaves ample opportunity for solicitors to abuse their money or resource-seeking tactics. Even with positive intent, it is a fundamental human right to feel safe in public spaces.
List governmental and community based agencies that work within this legislated act.
- Downtown Victoria Business Association: http://www.downtownvictoria.ca/
- Victoria Police Department: http://vicpd.ca/
- Youth Empowerment Society: http://www.vyes.ca/
What issues may be associated with the administration of this act?
- The Act is effective in theory, but due to the public nature of the streets, it is possible for this Act to be easily disobeyed without the required repercussions. The enforcement of this Act relies on personal knowledge of one’s rights, nearby peace officers or security personnel, or nearby citizens who are willing to seek help.
- The terms are also quite loose, which could easily lead to a misinterpretation or bending of the rules. It is okay for a pan-handler or a busker to ask for money, and these charity acts could be abused and materialize into harmful soliciting.
How would you support and advocate for your clients in relationship to this act?
- By informing my client of their rights, as a local citizen to ensure that they are aware of what is acceptable behaviour, and what is not. In many cases, the clients may be on the side of the solicitor, and be unaware. Pan-handling is not too different, than approaching an individual at an ATM and asking them for money, yet one is acceptable, and one is not.
- It is a very quick read, one that every resident of British Columbia should be well-versed in, I would proof my clients in the Act, if they are known to be hanging around the downtown streets, and really ensure that they are aware of what is acceptable behaviour, and what is not. The Safe Streets Act brochure is a very user-friendly way of obtaining the information of the Act, and answers many popular questions regarding the Act. It would be useful to either have the web link of the brochure in my practice setting, or have printed copies on hand. Access the pamphlet at the bottom of this page.
- Burnside-Gorge Community Association:
Burnside-Gorge provides a Life Skills Certificate Program for youth ages 15-19, which covers topics such as human rights, suicide prevention, sexual health, self awareness, fitness and health, problem solving, and job skills. The human rights portion would benefit my clients in understanding what is acceptable behaviour, and what is not.
- PEERS Street Outreach Program: http://www.peers.bc.ca/programs.html#outreach
PEERS has a major piece of enhancing street safety for the people working outside. It is a place where information on violence and violent people is exchanged, health and safety education takes place, and reports of violent customers/bad dates can be collected to be passed on to the police.
Describe and explain current or historical events as seen through the media that relate to this act, convention or charter. Provide a related link or copy of a newspaper article.
Squeegee Kids fight discriminatory law
By Sabitri Ghosh, Catholic New Times, March 11, 2001
In this article, Birdsell explains what the Safe Streets Act means in legal terms. "It does basically three things: it puts limits against panhandling; it basically makes squeegeeing against the law; and it makes throwing used condoms, broken glass or needles away illegal. The government would say the reason is they're concerned about traffic safety and people not being bothered. It's monitoring public space so that people who use the streets don't feel harassed or in fear."
safestreetsactbrochure.pdf | |
File Size: | 181 kb |
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