Public-safety initiatives and increased co-operation were on the docket at a meeting between Justice Minister Ross Landry and Halifax Regional Police  (HRP) Chief Frank Beazley on Wednesday.

The two, along with HRM CAO Richard Butts, met for an hour at the legislature Wednesday morning. According to Beazley, the meeting was to brief the minister on a number of HRP’s crime-prevention initiatives.

“What it was, was the province agreeing that, if HRM and the province can work better together with a common purpose, and that common purpose being public safety … we may find some solutions to some of these issues,” said Beazley.

The meeting comes about a month before Butts and HRM staff plan to table the 2012-2013 budget. But both Beazley and Landry said the police budget was not discussed at the meeting.

“The policing budget is always something that has to be managed and … I’m going to have to watch my budget closely,” said Beazley.

“But I’m also comfortable in saying I believe I have enough money to do what I need to do.”

Beazley noted violent crime from 2006-2011 declined by 56 per cent in HRM while property crime declined by more than 30 per cent over the same time period. But shootings and a record number of homicides last year ‘ two things Landry has been repeatedly asked about in the legislature ‘ are still cause for concern.

“Of course the minister wanted to be brought up to date on what’s going on and what we’re doing,” Beazley said.