The need to seriously consider amalgamating municipal policing services is inching ever closer.

It can be argued that neighbourhood crime can best be controlled with a strong local police presence. This is exemplified by the apparently successful efforts of Saanich and Oak Bay police forces in community-based law enforcement. This effectiveness would be badly damaged if a centralized "bottom-line" bureaucracy were to insensitively rotate staff assignments. It takes a special kind of police officer, with local knowledge and considerable sensitivity.

It is also a fact that organized crime does not recognize municipal boundaries.

Over the years, local police forces have created many structures to deal with the need to co-ordinate efforts in responding to major crimes. These efforts have included the combined special forces unit, the Greater Victoria emergency response team, the integrated roads safety unit, the integrated mobile crisis response team, the integrated major crime unit and the integrated municipal-provincial auto crime team. Is there a message in all this?

Sometimes this is done by seconding officers from each force to these specialized units. These units constantly rotate the officers, seeing it as a motivational tool. Continuity then becomes an issue.

These rotations also exacerbate other difficulties. Consider the CREST police radio cost-control problems. When everyone is in charge, no one is in charge.

When Victoria decided to withdraw from the integrated regional crimes unit because of budget constraints, it highlighted the basic defect in co-ordinated attempts to deal with significant criminal enterprises.

Municipal budgets are under pressure from every direction. It is understandable that each of them must, of necessity, deal with budget restraints by giving parochial concerns priority.

Another truth is that "white collar" crime is getting ever more sophisticated. Police forces that are stuck in the traditional paradigm will have to devote more resources in attacking this phenomenon. It would make no sense to build this capability in all forces.

But a multi-force co-ordinated unit would face the same difficulties as other such units.

Are integrated or co-ordinated police task forces any longer the most effective way to deal with cross-border issues? Any structural change to be considered would have to maintain the community-based philosophy of dealing with minor crimes.

Regional government has become the favourite "whipping boy" of local politicians. In some instances, however, this wider responsibility makes sense. This is particularly true when considering transportation and economic development matters.

Is it now time to consider such an approach to policing?

Mel Couvelier is a former Saanich mayor and provincial finance minister.