Fewer police calls since Kitchener consumption site opened, chief says

Prior to an interim consumption and treatment site opening in downtown Kitchener in the fall of 2019, some people worried the site could lead to a rise in crime nearby.

In fact, the opposite has happened, according to Waterloo regional police Chief Bryan Larkin.

Larkin told CBC Wednesday that demand for service from police in areas such as the Benton Street garage, Hall's Lane and the washrooms at Kitchener city hall "has actually declined" since the site opened at 150 Duke St. W. in October. 

Those calls often related to reported disturbances, suspicious people and overdoses, he said.

"The reality is that those that have an addiction and those that need to use [drugs] are now doing so at the site, and so we've seen some positive steps," said Larkin.

A consumption and treatment site is a place that allows people to inject drugs that would otherwise be considered illegal under the supervision of a nurse.

In Kitchener, the site is located near city hall at 150 Duke St. W. and is staffed by at least five people at a time, including  security and a social worker.

Police say officers and paramedics have responded to about 12 incidents at the consumption site itself. Most calls were medical and dealt with by paramedics, according to police.

Larkin said the calls also included a theft, a "ruckus" and an unwanted person. 

The downtown Kitchener core remains a busy area for police but Larkin said overall "it's stabilizing and starting to mitigate itself."

He said officers continue to meet with people in the community and that the consumption site remains a "polarizing" issue.

"We're not trying to change people's ideologies. What we're trying to do is save lives and ensure community safety," he said.

Meantime, Cambridge is facing another delay in deciding on a location for its consumption site.

Council voted Tuesday to defer any further decisions about a site until after a new Ward 7 councillor is elected on March 23.

When asked about the situation in Cambridge, Larkin said he couldn't comment on municipal political matters.