Fredericton is scaling up a program which targets public drug use and petty crime around the city. The Fredericton Police Force’s Direct Action Response Team (DART) will receive $1.14 million to add staff and equipment in 2027, including two additional police vehicles. City council approved funding to expand the pilot program on Monday as part of the municipality’s 2027 budget which directs $60 million to public safety (police, fire, bylaw enforcement, emergency preparedness, animal registration and control). DART began last year as the police force and city hall’s response to complaints about public drug use, petty crime and “street level disorder” in the community. The pilot program has also resulted in the removal of encampments from public trails and parks. The police force has previously reported the program leading to seizures of illicit drugs, prohibited weapons, and stolen property. A request for an interview with the Fredericton Police Force Tuesday was directed to city hall. Deputy Mayor Ruth Breen voted against the increase in funding Monday night, explaining her objection at a city hall budget meeting last week. “I appreciate what the DART team does and has done as they stand,” said Breen on Nov. 2. “What I do recall in many of the public safety meetings that we have had over the last few years regarding this crisis is that we cannot police ourselves out of this crisis. Yet every budget we seem to make these attempts to police ourselves out of this crisis.” Adam Peabody, executive director of Downtown Fredericton Inc., said the program was working with its membership reporting less open drug use “in front or nearby their businesses.” “We’ve certainly seen positive initial results from the pilot stage,” said Peabody. “Our business membership welcomes continued enhancement and capacity of that unit to tackle some of the street crime and open-air drug use that we do see play out across the city, but particularly in the downtown core.” For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
