A new push to increase police presence in Ottawa’s downtown core is now underway, targeting hotspots from the ByWard Market to Chinatown. Ottawa Police Chiefs Eric Stubbs first announced the plan in March, with a focus on boosting visibility and improving response time in some of the city’s busiest areas. The initiative officially began Friday, with more officers deployed across the downtown. Stubbs says the goal is to reduce crime and improve the sense of safety by the end of the summer, something residents and business owners say can’t come soon enough. For Pamela Onyemenam, the ByWard Market is a regular stop, but mostly during the day. “I’m usually here during the day, but if I lived in the area or I was here at night, I may not feel as safe,” she says. Onyemenam says she feels uneasy in the Market at times but welcomes the idea of more officers in the popular tourist area. “Police presence will definitely help to minimize all the noise about ByWard Market, downtown, during the weekend and late at night.” The new downtown safety plan will see increased patrols in areas including the Market, Rideau Street, Centretown and Chinatown. City councillor Stephanie Plante says the approach could extend beyond the core if it proves effective. “I’m really happy to see how this all plays out, because I think it could be a template not just for the downtown core, but where we have hot spots all over the city,” she says. Police say the plan goes beyond enforcement, with a focus on outreach and partnerships with community services to support vulnerable people in the downtown. “This is about being present and making sure we’re accomplishing some goals and managing some social disorder that we’re seeing,” Stubbs says. A few blocks away in Chinatown, businesses say many of the same issues are being felt. Yukang Li with the Chinatown BIA says concerns range from open drug use, vehicle break-ins to activity on private property, even during the day. “Even during broad daylight, you see people using drugs on the sidewalks and dealing on some private properties,” Li says. He notes there’s hope increased police presence will lead to quicker responses and fewer incidents. “We need small incidents like this to decrease significantly to bring the sense of safety back to the community.” The safety plan is expected to run until late September, though police say it may be adjusted depending on demand. Stubbs notes major events, protests, or serious incidents elsewhere in the city could pull resources away from the downtown.
