Calgary police launch one-day initiative to enhance public safety in downtown core

Calgary police are cracking down on crime in the core. If you were downtown on Wednesday, you would have seen more than 100 officers patrolling.

Calgary police say the rate of social disorder and crime in the city has not changed and it is taking action to turn the trend.

That action comes in the form of a strategy called the Safer Calgary Operation Order, a one-day plan that will see CPS, bylaw officers, transit safety officers and social agency partners engaging with residents in several targeted areas to connect them with supports and stop criminal activity.

“Despite ongoing enforcement efforts, including an eight-month concentrated operation earlier this year, the perception - and reality - of social disorder and crime has not improved. We’ve heard you. Enough is enough,” said CPS Chief Katie McLellan in a news release.

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McLellan said the operation is aimed at taking back public spaces for law-abiding Calgarians.

“It’s about ensuring that downtown Calgary is a place where everyone can live, work and play.”

The areas targeted by the strategy are Beltline, Chinatown, Downtown Commercial Core, Downtown East Village, Downtown West End and Eau Claire.

Police say these areas were chosen because violence has grown in this region over the last five years, primarily driven by targeted assaults and street robberies.

Centre City Crime & Social Disorder Data (January to September)

• Centre City includes six communities: Beltline, Chinatown, Downtown Commercial Core, Downtown East Village, Downtown West End and Eau Claire
• Violence in the Centre City reached a six-year high compared to the same time-period over the past five years.
• Public-generated disorder-related calls for service were 19 per cent higher within Centre City, compared to the rest of the city which saw a nine per cent decline.

The operation will see community safety peace officers handle bylaw matters and transit public safety (TPS) officers take care of transit-related issues.

Both units will be working collaboratively with the CPS.

“Collaboration strengthens our collective ability to respond effectively and enhances the sense of safety for transit users. Today, once again, transit peace officers’ role will go beyond enforcement—helping connect individuals seeking shelter on or near transit to vital community supports. By addressing both mental and physical health needs, this initiative provides a proactive and compassionate response that promotes a safer transit environment for everyone,” said TPS Chief Marcia Gonder.

McLellan said the Safer Calgary Operation Order builds from an initiative earlier this year, when 50 officers were placed in downtown hot spots to address crime and social disorder.

That initiative led to thousands of calls for service, executed warrants and referrals to social service agencies.

More than 370 criminal charges were also laid.

Wednesday’s campaign is more than just moving people from one corner to the next.

“We’re actually moving them to services that are there to provide wraparound services and support, whether that’s services in the downtown core or if they have to go to a remand centre,” she said.

“We don’t want vulnerable people to have criminal records, but if we have to arrest them to take them to social support services, if they break the law, we will do that.”

‘Not just showing up and walking away’

While the Wednesday blitz is just for one day, McLellan says they will learn from the experience and use those lessons moving forward.

“We will continue to do this going forward. After today, we will debrief, we will assess and we will reassess,” she said.

“This is not us just showing up and walking away and not coming back for months and months later. This is the beginning of what you will see to ensure people feel safe coming to this downtown core.”

She adds operations like this will also illustrate to the City of Calgary the need and effectiveness of having more personnel to deal with issues in the city centre.