Downtown public safety initiative
Since 2020, the City of Guelph’s downtown has had the highest number of drug poisoning incidents as compared to any other neighbourhood in the city. Poisoning incidents in our downtown are more than four times higher than the next highest neighbourhood.
Together with our community partners and social service agencies, the Guelph Police Service has followed a health-first approach to drug dependency and will continue to pursue this approach to seek health-related solutions whenever possible.
Unfortunately, our downtown community has experienced a disproportionate negative impact of open illegal drug use as compared to other neighbourhoods, often resulting in significant public safety concerns for those who live, work, and visit in our city’s core.
The Guelph Police Service recognizes the complexity of the variables impacting our downtown and has taken a multifaceted approach to provide support. We have significantly increased our presence in the downtown with the deployment of additional community resource officers who proactively interact with individuals, businesses and community partners. In addition, we have paired a dedicated community resource officer with a Canadian Mental Health Association mental health worker to support our downtown community. In the last six months, this team has had over 600 interactions with more than 100 individuals providing guidance and support.
In addition, our Service has taken an enforcement approach to the trafficking of controlled substances. Since January of 2023, there have been 35 separate investigations leading to the arrest of more than 80 individuals with in excess of 460 charges being laid.
Despite these efforts, illegal open air drug use and public safety issues have persisted. The Guelph Police Service is committed to ensuring the safety of our citizens. We are very mindful of the complexities of issues related to drug dependency and fully support measures being taken by our partner agencies to treat and support those with drug dependency issues. However, as the heart of our community, Guelph’s downtown is a shared public space that must be safe and welcoming for all who live, work and visit.
For the next several weeks, additional resources will be dedicated to the downtown, to specifically address public safety, including open drug use and associated criminal behaviours. Where lawful grounds exist, arrests will take place and drugs will be seized. Officers will then follow the direction set out in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act which directs officers to consider the appropriate course of action, including warning, diversion/referral, or the laying of charges. It is important to note that this project will focus on public safety in shared public spaces, and during its preparation community partners have been consulted.
Our Service is committed to providing supports to those struggling with dependency while also ensuring the safety of our community. As we seek to provide the most effective and efficient service possible, we strongly encourage our residents to contact police and report criminal activity when it happens at 519-824-1212 or 911 in an emergency.