Re: “Two mayors join push for regional policing,” Jan. 24.

The possible amalgamation of policing in the Capital Regional District, raised by the mayors of Victoria and Esquimalt, would be an excellent first step.

The current system is inefficient, expensive and unequal. Crimes committed between communities are less likely to be dealt with effectively. Indeed, it seems rational to amalgamate not only policing, but also fire and any other citizen-safety responsibilities, such as emergency services, which are not so far co-ordinated.

The claim will no doubt be made that amalgamation reduces local controls and may raise taxes in some communities. To deal with this concern, control over amalgamated services could be set up whereby the various communities could have voices in hiring, priorities and spending.

Already some communities, owing to local economic factors, have higher taxes and better services. This is fundamentally unfair, as we all live in a closely integrated community based on common infrastructures. In the event amalgamation happened, it would provide better, cheaper and more efficient services for everyone.

Incidentally, it would make finding addresses using GPS much simpler.

Edwin Daniel

Victoria

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