Vancouver’s Chinatown pushes for permanent solution after successful crime task force

Flooding the streets of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside with cops has been successful in driving down property crime, say police and business leaders.

Vancouver’s new police task force designed to crack down on crime in the Downtown Eastside has been a welcome addition for many Chinatown businesses.

On Monday, several family-owned stores explained to CTV News that they have witnessed officers on foot, in cruisers and on bikes patrolling the area for several months, and they say their presence has brought a sense of comfort to the community.

The Vancouver Police Department’s Task Force Barrage released data last week on how the initiative has fared since it began in February.

According to the data, Chinatown saw a 26 per cent drop in violent crime year-over-year, alongside a 57 per cent decline in robberies.

The most notable difference was in commercial break-and-enters, with the number plummeting 86 per cent.

Siblings Ross Lam and Tracy To have been working at Forum Appliances in the heart of Chinatown since 1988, and have seen waves of changes over that time.

The two say the area has always faced its challenges but in recent years, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, the neighbourhood fell on hard times and crime in the area grew.

“We’ve seen a stronger presence of the police force – patrols that we haven’t had for many years,” said Lam.

To continued by saying they are appreciative of the changes, especially with the reaction time being far less and officers being able to intervene before incidents escalate.

Many businesses echoed her sentiment, but say heavy policing is a temporary solution to a problem that needs a permanent fix for the sake of the businesses and community.

“There has to be more done from other levels of government,” said To.

“I feel the police can only do so much. They’re not the ones to solve the mental health crisis.”

To said she hopes that elected officials will place more emphasis on the Downtown Eastside, and will try to get to the root of the problem.

One block over, David Prowse, the director of programming of the Rickshaw Theatre on East Hastings, echoed the calls for action.

The longtime Vancouverite says he has never felt unsafe in the neighbourhood, but believes the greater attention on finding solutions to those in need of help is crucial.

“I love this neighbourhood, and I want to see it succeed,” said Prowse.

“The big problem is the housing crisis, overdose crisis, mental health crises that are happening at a regional and maybe even a national level and are hyper focused in this area.”

Prowse is calling for government action to help those suffering in the area, as it affects everyone, he said.