New provincial offence for public drug use gives officers ‘more options,’ police say
Global News
As part of its Safer Municipalities Act last year, Ontario began the process of creating a provincial offence for people using illegal drugs in public.
Law enforcement officials hope new provincial offences pushed through by the Ford government last year will give them more options to deal with public drug use as major cities struggle with enforcement.
As part of its Safer Municipalities Act last year, Ontario began the process of creating a provincial offence for people using illegal drugs in public.
The offence means police officers will be able to hand out non-criminal tickets to people ordering them to court if they’re found using illegal substances in the open.
The government is currently considering offering the power to special constables, who work in places like transit and university campuses, as well.
Sarah Kennedy, president of the Ontario Special Constables Association, said the powers would give her and her colleagues an important middle ground between a full criminal offence and being forced to move people on without taking any further action.
“(Currently), they would be arrested for possession of a controlled substance and searched accordingly. They’d be fingerprinted and photographed, and they’d be put through a criminal process. That’s extensive and cumbersome considering it’s for personal use — it’s a small, small amount,” she explained to Global News.
“Alternatively, if we don’t pursue a criminal avenue, the alternative is to do nothing.”
The provincial government recently posted its proposed regulation to allow special constables to hand out tickets for public drug use.
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