Downtown Hamilton police team a waste of time and money, councillor says

Crime of every type has decreased in Hamilton's downtown core, but one councillor wants to look at the price taxpayers are paying to make it happen.

Officers on Hamilton's ACTION (Addressing Crime Trends in Our Neighbourhoods) team are a frequent presence on foot and bicycle in the downtown core. As a result of their presence, crime of every type has decreased, from break and enters to assaults, said Staff Sergeant Martin Schulenburg in a presentation to the police services board Monday.

But Coun. Terry Whitehead, a Mountain councillor and board member, says residents have complained that the ACTION team is an unwise use of officer time.

"I showed two pictures earlier today of officers on the ACTION team sitting on a corner for 45 minutes," Whitehead said after the meeting.

"Apparently that is about safety. Apparently that is about providing value of service of this community. I think many of us don't see it that way."

The ACTION discussion happened in the same meeting that the board approved Hamilton Police Service's $139-million budget, which increased 3.52 per cent over last year. The board initially approved a 3.71-per cent increase over last year, but city councillors asked for more cuts.

ACTION officers stand at downtown intersections and hand out provincial offence tickets for infractions such as seatbelts and improper left-hand turns, Whitehead said.

"A lot of people don't see the value in that."

Those comments, Chief Glenn De Caire said, are "an inaccurate characterization of the excellent work (ACTION officers) do."

The officers canvass, file reports, conduct investigations and do other police work, he said. And their presence is important for crime prevention.

Mayor Bob Bratina spoke in favour of the downtown presence. He recalled recent years when "from King and James east was an open drug market."

King and James is "a window to the city of Hamilton," and it used to be a popular spot for criminals, he said.

"If you took those officers away, they'd come right back."

ACTION members are deployed 20 times per week in all three Hamilton divisions.

Downtown crime stats since 2009:

Robberies: down 60 per cent Break and enters: down 40 per cent Stolen automobiles: down 20 per cent Theft from vehicles: down 20 per cent Violent crime: down 38 per cent Assaults: down five per cent

McQuesten area crime stats:

Robberies: down 45 per cent Break and enters: up 58 per cent Stolen vehicles: no change Theft from vehicles: down 55 per cent Violent crime: down 28 per cent Assaults: down 49 per cent

Concession area crime stats:

Robberies: down 47 per cent Break and enters: up 20 per cent Stolen vehicles: down 23 per cent Theft from vehicles: down two per cent Violent crime: down 10 per cent Assaults: down 19 per cent