Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release The Women’s Resource Centre and The John Howard Society of Brandon are pleased to play a pivotal role in the delivery of Third Party Reporting services in Brandon. Both agencies are proud to pave the way for survivors of sexual assault to have another reporting option available to them. Third Party Reporting is a process in which survivors of sexual assault complete a report with a trained individual at an advocate agency. Here in Brandon this will be The Women’s Resource Centre or John Howard Society Brandon. They will deliver the third-party report to Brandon Police Service without any identifying information of the survivor. The survivor will not have to speak with police. The traditional method of reporting a sexual assault can be intimidating and produces barriers to reporting. Third party reporting will reduce the number of assaults that go unreported. Survivors will have a voice within a system that they may not have otherwise accessed due to stigma, fear, and further trauma. Through these agencies, survivors will have access to individual counselling, a pivotal ingredient to begin their therapeutic process. Brandon Police Service has been anticipating the development of Third Party Reporting. In the past, the only sexual assault survivors who were eligible for Victim’s Compensation were those who made a formal report to police. Now this compensation will be available to survivors even if they choose not to speak to police directly. The information provided by survivors to the Third Party Reporting Agencies, may also assist police in identifying offenders or trends that have gone unreported in the past as the data will be collected and tracked. Joint efforts between The Women’s Resource Centre, The John Howard Society of Brandon, and Brandon Police Service, is the multi-faceted approach our community needs to address the barriers individuals face when initiating a sexual assault report. The Women’s Resource Centre provides programs, services, and counselling on issues affecting women and children, including family violence while encouraging respect, diversity and equality with a feminist perspective. The John Howard Society of Brandon’s (JSHB) mandate is to deal with crime through the lens of restorative justice. This includes involving the victims of crime to have a voice in the process, holding the offender accountable for their actions, and allowing for rehabilitation and healing for all parties involved.  In addition to this, JHSB also offers programming including anger management and healthy relationship programming for men women and youth.  JHSB provides this service throughout Westman and the Parkland regions victims of all genders.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release Shortly after 6:00 pm on July 29, 2019, police received a report of the theft of a tablet from a front porch. The owner of the tablet was able to tell the location of the device, and alert police to its location. On July 30, 2019 shortly after 4:00 pm, police located the tablet in the possession of a 28-year-old female. She was arrested and the tablet seized to be returned to the owner. She will be appearing in court on September 23, 2019.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On July 3 and 5, 2019, police received two separate reports from financial institutions of damage to their ATM. Nothing was stolen from either attempt, but it appeared the individual responsible was attempting to gain access to the contents. Investigations led police to the identity of the individual responsible for both incidents. The 21-year-old male was arrested on Monday, July 29, 2019. He will appear in court on September 30, 2019.

Join the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) in celebrating the beauty and versatility of the Arabian horse at The Canadian National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show from August 11-17, 2019, at the Keystone Centre in Brandon, Manitoba. Attend one of our educational T.A.I.L. Tours where you can meet an Arabian horse, get a backstage experience of the show and meet the exhibitors. Tours are free and open to the public during the following days and hours: *Thursday, August 15 at 2 p.m. *Friday, August 16 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. *Saturday, August 17 at 10 a.m To attend a tour, please RSVP at youth@arabianhorses.org or call 303-696-4505. AHA will be handing out vouchers for a free horse shaped stress reliever at the Second Annual Brandon Ribfest held at the Keystone Center from August 16 -18. Vouchers can be redeemed at the AHA Awards Room in the Keystone Centre through Saturday, August 17. Stress relievers are available while supplies last. Enjoy some BBQ! Stay for the show and take home a gift! For more information on the Arabian Horse Association, please go to www.arabianhorses.org. (article submitted)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On July 26 & 27, 2019, the Brandon Police Service - Organized Crime Section, together with the Winnipeg Police Service - Counter Exploitation Unit conducted project Beckon. The Counter Exploitation Unit is part of the Winnipeg Police Service's Specialized Investigation Division. Part of the unit's focus is the safety and wellbeing of those involved in sex trade, whether directly or indirectly and to conduct proactive enforcement on those who choose to exploit the vulnerable for sexual services. Focused on Brandon, Project Beckon’s goal was to target the demand side of sexual exploitation and safety of those who are exploited. The results of Project Beckon are: 20 males arrested and charged with Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration under the Criminal Code. They range in age from 22 to 82-years-old. 15 vehicles seized under the Manitoba Highway Traffic act. All 20 individuals have been released on a Promise to Appear. Sexual Exploitation is not bound by jurisdictions. Victims do not choose this lifestyle or the harm inflicted upon them as a result. Those vulnerable to sexual exploitation are transient. Further results of this joint force operation are that investigators can focus on building safer, long-term strategies while balancing the needs of everyone involved. Signs victims are being exploited include: being escorted and/or watched, not speaking on their own behalf, limited knowledge of area/city they are in, and signs of depression or fear. For more information on sexual exploitation and human trafficking visit: https://www.winnipeg.ca/police/ceu/default.stm