Police to step up patrols in 8 ByWard Market 'hot spots'

Ottawa police say they plan to increase their presence in eight specific areas of the downtown core they claim are "hot spots" for crime and social disorder.

All eight locations are in or near the ByWard Market, including near Rideau Centre and the intersection of Rideau Street and King Edward Avenue.

They're listed in a report to the Ottawa Police Services Board on the Ottawa Police Service's (OPS) "community outreach response and engagement" (CORE) strategy, which relies on financial help from both the city and the province. The board will discuss the report Monday.

Chief Eric Stubbs outlined the five-part plan earlier this year, starting with the opening of a new OPS post on the ground floor of Rideau Centre at the end of June.

OPS now plan to turn their attention to the hot spots identified in the report by creating a "sustained and visible police presence" in those areas.

Rather than pushing crime into other neighbourhoods, the report suggests the best approach is for officers to defuse potentially volatile situations right where they're happening.

Strategy met with mixed reaction

A lack of visible police presence is a common complaint, and some racialized groups have expressed concerns over bias. Others feel funding for police enforcement would be better spent on mental health resources and other social supports.

Steven Wu said he's all in favour of a greater police presence after the ByWard Market vape shop where he works was robbed while another employee was there.

"She was super scared," he told CBC. "Two teenagers broke in. It was a surprise. We saw it on camera." 

At Blackmarket Barbershop on Dalhousie Street, Garvin Burnside said he's already seeing the police strategy in action.

"I've seen the increase in presence. I feel safe about, I feel good about it," he said. "There's not necessarily only bad things going on, but I feel like a higher police presence is never a bad thing."

But not everyone is feeling reassured. Jeff Demorest, who's experiencing homelessness, said he feels torn about seeing more officers on the street because that's money that's not being spent to solve the city's housing crisis.

"The housing is outrageous," he said. "I want a place. When I have a place, I have no problems. I'm not out doing stupid shit, running around trying to earn money."

Shannon Macquarie feels the ByWard Market can be a scary place for an unhoused woman, and welcomes having more officers around.

"I think it'll stop a lot more problems," she said.