In any organization, as time goes by, the need arises for strategic changes to be undertaken. The changes can vary from the internal structure of the body, such as adjustment of management of the external environment which can include changes in the location. Changes and variations in any enterprise are inevitable for growth and development of the incorporation.
Currently, the City’s Police Headquarters is in the process of shifting its whole department to downtown Winnipeg. While locating the place to situate the offices, several considerations, such as the steps to be followed to acquire the new site and challenges to be experienced should be reviewed. Besides, there are regulations that govern the situation of various enterprises and buildings in any state or country. The procurement officers in the ventures are assigned the task of ensuring that suitable site is located using the legal procedures and the obstacles in the process are avoided or eliminated.
The Police Department falls under the Public Works and the Services of the Government of Canada. Hence, when procurements are made regarding the new location, they should be governed by a solid legal framework based on contracts and agreements, policies, directives and guidelines, statutes and regulations not forgetting the challenge process. The procedure starts with the federal government agency contacting the Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC). Since the transition to the building’s location involves a significant amount of cost outlay, all the requirements of the contract are published in the Government Electronic Tendering Service (GETS) ("Acts and regulations - PWGSC", 2016). From there, the officer procuring the new site can be able to view the list of available government buildings in Downtown Winnipeg. The location is suitable because the crime rate is increasing in the area at an alarming rate, and this can be curbed through introducing a police headquarter in the place. For example, crime in the North End is high making the streets unsafe especially at night. Selecting this as the new location will boost security in the area. Another reason making Downtown Winnipeg a suitable locality is the fact the area is the situated at a relatively well-connected terminal linking up the department to the other towns’ hence enhanced response to security threats and calls (Sleiman & Lippert, 2010).
However, there are challenges that are associated with the project. The project plans to set up security barriers around the downtown building, and this could cost up to $1.9 million. The added security measures for the new headquarters adds up the total cost of the whole project pushing it even further from the $135 million initial budget. The barriers are intended to protect the building from potential terrorist attacks and with a relative Cost-Benefit Analysis conducted, the plans can be justified since they can be very beneficial in the event of such a scenario.
Another challenge that is facing the procurement department is the delays and postponing by the government department regarding the relocation of the police headquarters’. Over time, the project has been subject to criticism from the public due to the increased costs incurred by the project incurring an excess of $77 million over the original budget. The increased costs incurred reflect a further usage of taxpayers’ money, and this has raised public claims of alleged fraud and fund mismanagement.
While selecting a place to relocate a public department or faculty, several factors should be reviewed for example the accessibility of the location to the public. The public facility needs to be in an area that it can serve the target public with ease and convenience. Hence, the relocation of the Police base in downtown Winnipeg fulfills this condition since the downtown localities are connected to the major state terminals, hence making the public from the town as well as from the countryside conveniently access the facility. An example of such a place is the Gates.
Another factor that cannot be overlooked is the security of the location. A public utility or department is usually a center where people are often, hence their safety should be guaranteed through the incorporation of stringent security systems. In regards to security, the location of the public facility in our case the Police Headquarters’ in Downtown Winnipeg should ensure that the security of areas such as parking is enhanced. In the area, police have experienced instances of their security being undermined by organized gangs which have occasionally vandalized the police vehicles and facilities. Such occurrences depict how the safety and security in the area are at alarming levels and emphasize the need for rectification. By the complete relocation of the police force to the area, the safety of the residence is expected to improve since the police force can maintain and enforce law and order efficiently at first-hand ("Incident Management/Intervention Model - Royal Canadian Mounted Police", 2009). In downtown Winnipeg, areas that are known to be secure include the River Heights, and the South and North Tuxedo. Therefore, these areas will be considered when selecting the new location for the police headquarters.
Space is a consideration that cannot be overlooked in the process of finding a location to position a facility or an initiative. Space is needed to accommodate the operations of the organization freely without causing congestion, which disruption of personal workspace and freedom. In relation to room availability, the parking lot should be considered. The downtown police headquarters location offers the employees 350 parking slots which should be able to accommodate all the officers since they work on shifts and are allowed to drive their cars home. To the civilians and police officers who do not get parking space, the security department should ensure that there is a safe-walk program to enhance the safety of the public.
In conclusion, the relocation of the Police headquarter offices to downtown Winnipeg should be based on considerations such as room for expansion, parking, safety and more importantly must emphasize the convenience of the location to the servers and the target service-receivers. Also, during the relocation of an office or department, legal procedures should be adhered to ensure that the situation is certified and protected by the law of the state. When the right procurement procedures and steps are adopted, the room for conflicts and future complaints or need to relocate is minimized hence creating a conducive environment for public service delivery.
References
Acts and regulations - PWGSC. (2016). Tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca. Retrieved 27 March 2016, from http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/lr-ar/index-eng.html
Incident Management/Intervention Model - Royal Canadian Mounted Police. (2009). Rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Retrieved 27 March 2016, from http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ccaps-spcca/cew-ai/imim-migi-eng.htm
Sleiman, M., & Lippert, R. (2010). Downtown ambassadors, police relations and ‘clean and safe’ security. Policing and Society, 20(3), 316-335.
