How to crack down on open drug use? 5 Londoners on what police should do

Months after he promised to crack down on drug users smoking and injecting substances out in the open, Chief Thai Truong will unveil a new approach to guide police officers as they interact with drug users in the city's downtown, midtown and Old East Village.

At his state of the city address, Mayor Josh Morgan said, "Blatant public drug ... must not be tolerated" and welcomed an open-air public space drug strategy. Truong has said it's a problem police can't "arrest their way out of." 

The new policy, called Project Pathways, will be unveiled at police headquarters Tuesday morning. CBC News spoke to several Londoners about what they'd like to see. 

Scott Courtice

Executive director, London Intercommunity Health Centre

"I hope that as we're trying to enforce the appropriate use of public space, that people are moved to places where they can get support services and not just be moved along to nothing," Courtice said. 

"We need to use this as an opportunity to provide supports to people and not have it feel punitive, but really like we're trying to balance the concerns of businesses and neighbourhoods with the real need for people who are using substances on the street to get access to services."

Police will hopefully balance the rights of people using drugs with the rights of people to enjoy public spaces and for businesses to thrive. "Confiscating drugs should be a very last resort for police." 

Kevin Morrison

General manager, Old East Village business improvement area

"Since I've been here for the last year and a half, there's been a hands-off approach to open drug use and it seems that not only are we ignoring it but we're enabling it, so that has to stop. People don't feel safe on their sidewalks or on the streets," Morrison said. 

"I think the first step is to confiscate the drugs. Take the drugs away, make them uncomfortable. Where are they going to go? I don't now, but you can't be on the sidewalks. By moving them along and making it uncomfortable, they don't have the drugs anymore, they have to go through the hassle of getting drugs again." 

Those whose drugs have been taken away might be more agitated, but it might help them move toward asking for treatment, Morrison said.

Melissa Parrott 

Shop clerk, Grooves Records

"I work downtown. It's really tough to see people struggling every single day," Parrott said. "I don't want people to be pushed aside. We don't like to see drug use around the library, where people bring their kids, where they walk their dogs; having all the litter is disturbing, but it's also disturbing to see police moving people along who are just eating a sandwich, just trying to survive." 

There has to be a place for people to go, she added. "Do they have a place to go? That's my main concern. We need more services, somewhere safe to consume the drugs. Safe supply and a safe place to use, that's what we need." 

Michelle Nicholls

Downtown resident

"Weed is legal, but anything else than that, they should be cracking down on. The police chief has said they won't arrest immediately; they'll move people along and give stern warnings twice. You can definitely see the drug use problem here downtown. I think if people know that they'll get a ticket eventually, that would be great. Arresting everyone won't make any sense, we already have a really clogged justice system." 

Mark Dencev

Owner, Richmond Tavern 

"What I'd really like to see is some sort of a zone where commercial businesses and tourism are really considered. I think it's super important to be very compassionate with the individuals that are using. I understand how difficult it is for them. There are not a lot of safe places for them to go. But when you're standing in the open, in doorways, you're not only impeding businesses, but you're setting a real obstacle for the reputation of downtown. It makes people feel not safe to come downtown." 

A zero-tolerance zone where people loitering or using drugs would be immediately ushered out could be the solution, Dencev said. 

"If you don't listen, then you're going to get a ticket, a fine, arrested, whatever. But if you're doing what you're doing outside of that zone, nobody is going to bother you about it. That way, businesses are protected." 

Beat police and foot patrol officers know the names of the people who use drugs in their areas, and seem to care about them, Dencev added. "There's not enough tools in their toolbox and not enough resources to back them up. They're just shuffling people along to the next empty doorway, and that's not a solution. You need a property for safe injections, some sort of an area that would be more supportive for these individuals, just not in the middle of downtown when we're trying to do business."