Homeless community will not be the focus of crime crackdown in Vancouver's downtown core: VPD
Officers say an increased presence in Vancouver's downtown core prompted by a rise in crime will not be focused on residents of the area who are experiencing homelessness.
The Vancouver Police Department says it plans to redeploy officers to the area "in response to commercial crime and disorder in the business district."
Those crimes include things like window breaks. VPD says these incidents have gone up 100 per cent downtown between June and mid-September this year compared to last.
The department made a similar move earlier in the pandemic following an increase in property crime when businesses were shuttered.
In a news release Thursday, the VPD said it planned to increase the number of patrols immediately in areas it described as hardest hit: Granville Street and the West End.
Officers will also be in the area on foot and bikes to increase the VPD's general street-level presence.
"We're hearing loud and clear from business owners and residents who don't feel safe and are frustrated by rising crime," Sgt. Steve Addison said in the news release.
He said officers in the area will work directly with those who live or work there to address specific concerns, while at the same time working to identify "chronic offenders" and solve crimes that have already occurred.
"We know that many of these crimes are committed by a small number of career criminals and we're going to make life uncomfortable for them," Addison said.
"We also know there are a lot of people facing homelessness, addiction and mental illness in the downtown core. We want to assure the community that these vulnerable people will not be the focus of our attention."
John Clerides, who owns Marquis Wine Cellars, says the redeployment of VPD officers is a start.
“It’s about time,” he said. “Beat cops are maybe a thing of the past but they certainly did work.”
Clerides is one of many business owners frustrated by what’s happened on Davie Street.
Last week, thieves smashed the front window of his business and stole an e-bike worth about $6,000. He says the criminals, captured on video surveillance, only needed about 20 seconds to get the job done.
He says it’s just one example of what’s been happening in the neighbourhood. He says businesses have seen “storefront break-ins, windows being smashed, jewelry taken, bikes stolen, product taken.”
Mel Smith is a long-time resident who says he’s scared at the changes in the community.
“It’s just become so violent,” Smith said. “There’s so much garbage and trash everywhere.”
“I’m disabled. I don’t feel safe here at night or anytime.”
Ron Moore, who is homeless, says he stays away from crime but knows it’s how others survive.
“When you’re out on the street, you got no food, you got no money, you got no dope. So then you start kicking in windows," he said.
Similar measures were put in place downtown last fall. During that 42-day period, according to police, there were 1,400 calls and 210 weapons seized.
Earlier this year, officers launched another crackdown following a 260 per cent increase in violent shoplifting incidents, which resulted in 130 arrests in about 40 days.
As the latest initiative rolls out, officers are reminding the public that any in-progress incidents or those that put someone's health and safety at risk should be reported to 911.
If there are no safety concerns and the suspect has left the scene of a less serious crime, those incidents can be reported online or through the VPD's non-emergency line.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Hulk Hogan, hurricanes and a blockbuster recording: A week in review of the Trump hush money trial
Crucial witnesses took the stand in the second week of testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial, including a California lawyer who negotiated deals at the center of the case and a longtime adviser to the former president.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Drone footage shows Ukrainian village battered to ruins as residents flee Russian advance
The Ukrainian village of Ocheretyne has been battered by fighting, drone footage obtained by The Associated Press shows. The village has been a target for Russian forces in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Parliamentary report on Emergencies Act decision is 18 months past due — and counting
The erstwhile group of senators and MPs studying the federal government's invocation of the Emergencies Act over the "Freedom Convoy" was supposed to present its findings in December. December of 2022, that is.