By Sandra Milton
Over the past year, the Ottawa Police Services (OPS) have engaged extensively with our downtown communities. This has involved building stronger relationships with city partners, social service agencies, businesses, and local community associations.
The growing problems of crime and social disorder are profoundly affecting community safety and well-being in the downtown core. Residents, businesses, and street-involved populations report increased fear and insecurity stemming from crime and a decline in a shared sense of community. The situation is worsened by visible social disorder and public health issues, including open drug use, overdoses and deteriorating street sanitation.
What follows is an overview of strategies that the OPS intend to implement towards improving safety and well-being in our community.
Neighbourhood Operations Centre (NOC)
The OPS will open a neighbourhood operations centre NOC, located in the Rideau Centre, in June 2024. What does this mean for the community?
It is NOT a police station. It is intended to provide a community-level location for regular and ad-hoc meetings for police and eventually other community partners (not yet announced) to have a shared presence in the community. The NOC is meant to support downtown revitalization and community safety by enhancing police presence, visibility, and accessibility in the ByWard Market and Rideau Street corridor.
The NOC is the hub in a multi-phase expansion, with the vision of creating centralized access to an array of community support services. There is potential for public access in future phases of development. It is considered to be a crucial component in advancing to the next level of the CORE strategy.
Community Outreach Response and Engagement Strategy – CORE
Along with the NOC, the OPS has funded a program called CORE. The strategic launch of CORE is scheduled for 30 June 2024, with a preliminary evaluation of the program to begin in September 2024. The strategy is for hot-spot policing in areas identified through evidence-based data and analysis via consultation and feedback. The goal is for safer communities, less crime, support for vulnerable community members, and community-led solutions.
The objectives of the CORE strategy are:
- Proactive engagement in high need “areas of focus”
- Police enforcement targeting serious offenders
- Neighbourhood Operations Centre (NOC)
- Community Advisory Board (CAB)
- The Integrated Community Situation Table (ICST)
Currently identified hot spots are
Community Advisory Council – CAB
The CAB was formed in September 2023 and meets quarterly. The downtown council is comprised of representatives from City Council, the ByWard Market District Authority, the Rideau BIA, and service providers. The purpose is a cross-sectional task force to collaboratively address systematic barriers to community safety and well-being in the downtown core and avoid duplication of efforts across initiatives.
Integrated Community Situation Table – ICST
The ICST is also known as Community Support and is represented by 30+ diverse partners. Representatives include community and social services, health, housing, Indigenous services, justice, and municipal government. It was created to better support at-risk individuals who frequently interact with the criminal justice system.
