London police say its simply too early to assess the impact of a new strategy to reduce public drug use in the city’s core business districts - but stakeholders are already sharing feedback with CTV News.
On April 9, the London Police Service (LPS) foot patrol was expanded with eight additional officers who began collaborating with mental health and addiction workers to approach people using drugs in public.
The officers wear body cameras and have the ability to confiscate drugs and lay charges— but the primary goal is to get drug users connected to support and treatment.
Initially, the program will focus on the Old East Village (OEV), midtown, and downtown London.
Adina Innis, owner of Mystic Wisdom Tea and Bookshop, and her father Charles Innis have already seen the strategy firsthand in OEV.
Charles noticed people gathering in a doorway near Adelaide and Dundas where drug use sometimes occurs.
“They would spend the entire day there, but the other day I saw [foot] patrol come by and they asked them, in a very tactful way, to move along. A short time later they were gone,” he explained. “I hadn’t seen anything like that since we’ve been here.”
“Seeing [drug use] on the street makes us feel a little unsafe on Dundas, which is really sad because it’s a really nice community and neighborhood,” added Adina. “I’m glad that [police] are doing something to try and improve the safety.”
Just a week after the initiative launched, public drug use can still be seen within the neighbourhoods being patrolled. However, several longtime problem areas were empty when visited by CTV News on Thursday.
Harry Patterson said his frequent visits to downtown London feel safer than just a couple weeks ago.
“It’s long overdue, and its a lot safer coming downtown,” Patterson said about the corner of Dundas and Richmond. “You don’t have to worry about somebody robbing your pocket or taking your jewelry or something. You feel comfortable again - like it’s the 1990s.”
And Jim Livingstone said not having to see public drug use when he rides his bike through the Old East Village benefits his own sobriety.
“I’m a former drug addict. I’m recovering, and it’s hard for me when I see it out here,” Livingstone admitted. “You feel what’s going on, and you’re back in your old ways. So, I think [the strategy] is a good idea.”
London police told CTV News that once sufficient data is collected from the Open Air Substance Use Strategy, the information will be shared with the public.
As part of the initiative, police are asking Londoners to anonymously complete a short survey about safety concerns and perceptions of safety in the Old East Village, midtown, and downtown London.
