LETTER: Law enforcement decisions up to police in Victoria, not council

With the news coverage recently about Pandora Avenue, I need to address a frequent misunderstanding about law enforcement and the role of city councils.

It could arise from the pervasive nature of American movies and TV shows – where a mayor tells the police what to do. It’s not like that here.

City mayors and councils do not make enforcement decisions, whether it’s about public drug use, shoplifting, or any other criminal matter. And the police do not answer to city councils.

Victoria city council has never directed VicPD to not enforce any particular law. Nor to enforce. We have not, and we cannot. When, where, how, and whether to enforce is completely – 100% – up to the police.

So If you want to see any changes to enforcement, please contact the police. They are the ones – the only ones – who decide.

Dave Thompson

Victoria councillor