Ottawa police aiming to see improvements in downtown core by end of summer with new safety plan

The sign outside Ottawa Police headquarters on Elgin St. is seen in this undated photo. (Aaron Reid/CTV News Ottawa)

Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs says he expects to see a reduction in crime and social disorder in the city’s downtown core by the end of summer with a new safety plan set to begin.

Stubbs first announced in March that additional officers would be deployed to downtown areas including the ByWard Market, Rideau Street, Centretown, and Chinatown starting May 1.

Speaking to reporters prior to Monday’s Ottawa Police Service Board meeting, Stubbs said the desired outcome of the plan would be a decrease in thefts and in social disorder.

“I want to see an improvement. Where we’re at right now, it has to get better by the end of summer, based on our plan, and when I say has to, if we’re able to deliver and do the work that we want to do down there, it should get better,” he said.

Stubbs said the plan includes proactive and reactive work, managing social disorder and targeting prolific offenders in terms of retail theft and drug trafficking.

The plan will include Neighbourhood Resource Team officers, community policing officers, the Community Youth Unit, Ottawa Police special constables, traffic officers and members of the new Parliamentary Precinct team. Stubbs said added hiring has allowed the service to be in position to roll out a broader downtown plan.

“We’re confident that we can develop a downtown safety plan where we can have a sustained presence,” he said.

Roadblocks and challenges

Stubbs said there are “hurdles” the police service could come across that might draw resources away from the downtown plan, including major events and protests, and significant crimes elsewhere in the city.

Another issue could be an increase in the homeless population downtown.

“For example, last summer, we did see a significant increase in the vulnerable population, the homelessness, mental health and an addiction population. If that increases significantly, again, it may look like that we’re not doing anything, because it seems like it’s the same,” he said. “Even though we’ve addressed maybe a number of people, there’s just more that have come in. So, it seems like not much has changed. So that perception, that could occur.”

He also said the plan includes more than just enforcement.

“We do have a lot of partnerships in the downtown core, City Hall and a lot of the NGOs that work down there, and we do want to guide people on a positive path, be it getting into a home, getting some help for their mental health or their addictions, and it’s always our path to put people on a positive one instead of the justice system, but certainly there’s some people that need to be charged,” Stubbs said.

Two-pronged approach

According to a presentation prepared for the Ottawa Police Service Board, the downtown core safety plan includes a two-pronged strategy targeting prolific offenders and geographic hot spots, with a focus on retail theft, drug activity, trespassing and disorder.

“A coordinated strategy is required to make presence effective,” the presentation says.

The plan will be in effect from May 1 to Sept. 30, with two main areas of focus: Centretown, Chinatown, and the Golden Triangle as one area, and the ByWard Market, Lowertown, and Sandy Hill as the other.

The schedule could be adjusted based on conditions and demand.

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