Rideau Centre police hub may not open to public until 2025

The Ottawa Police Service's new downtown hub may not open to the public until at least 2025, the force's chief says. 

Earlier this year, the service announced its future "neighbourhood operations centre" in the Rideau Centre mall would give officers a space to meet and collaborate with community groups.

According to a report presented Monday at the Ottawa Police Services Board, police will take possession of the space in March 2024, with a target of being fully operational by the end of spring.

Chief Eric Stubbs told media ahead of the board meeting the facility, which isn't a proper police station, won't be open to the public for at least 12 to 18 months after that.

"Staffing limitations" account for that, according to the report. 

Officers will "come and go as they coordinate operations, hold briefings, process reports, access the OPS computer system and host community meetings," the report goes on to say.

Stubbs added that the centre will help officers "strategize on how best to manage the people that need that assistance or are of concern in the market."

He's expected to give an update on the centre in April.