Great Big Story, CNN’s answer to Vice and Buzzfeed, made a visit to Nanaimo recently to document Nanaimo RCMP’s positive ticketing program.
Since about 2005, police in Nanaimo have issued positive tickets to children and youth when officers witness children and youth doing something right.
The token rewards are intended to reinforce good habits and give kids opportunities to establish positive relations with police.
“Positive ticketing is the brain child of retired superintendent Ward Clapham, which he started in the Lower Mainland and was emulated in Nanaimo when he came here,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. “It’s had a positive impact on the community and the relationships between youth and police officers and we continue to use it and plan on doing so into the foreseeable future.”
Great Big Story’s online documentary about the program can be viewed on line at http://bit.ly/2f7XZyM.