Zero tolerance for trespassing part of new police drug-use control plan

Charlottetown residents who are witnessing public drug use, dealing with damaged property, and feeling unsafe in their community as a result, expressed their frustration at a public meeting Tuesday night.

About 300 people piled into the gym at Birchwood Intermediate School for the meeting, which was hosted by Charlottetown Police. The meeting comes after Charlottetown city council unanimously voted for police to come up with a plan to address illicit drug use.

The Community Outreach Centre on Euston Street and its clients were in the middle of many of the complaints about problems in the neighbourhood.

"Recently the loitering has been extreme," said Patricia Abbott, who runs the Sobeys Express across the street from the centre.

"They will move their property and themselves up in front and they totally block the sidewalk, block the driveway and make it almost impossible for anybody to feel safe to come to my store… I've heard many, many times before that people don't feel comfortable coming to gas at my store anymore."

Concerned parents also spoke at the meeting, saying they are worried for their children because the centre is so close to public schools. They told stories of walking with their kids and seeing people using drugs, and of people exposing themselves to their children. They expressed concern their children could be pricked by a used needle.

Last week an eight-year-old was pricked by a needle in Hillsborough Square.

Others who live near the centre told stories about people breaking into their homes to sleep, people using drugs on their porch and being threatened. Many at the meeting said they want police to do more.

According to Charlottetown police calls for service in general are up by 32 per cent in 2023, compared year-to-date with 2018. Most of that increase was driven by mental health calls, said Charlottetown Police Chief Brad MacConnell.

"I'm going to be challenging myself and my staff to do more with the resources we have because I know our community needs us," MacConnell said.

"Drug addiction largely is a coping mechanism for deep rooted mental health issues, people suffering anxiety or stresses of being homeless."

MacConnell outlined some of the immediate changes he has ordered.

Charlottetown police will be more visible in the city, with more foot patrols and a focus on senior and student safety.

"I've instructed my staff to have a zero tolerance for people trespassing on private property," said MacConnell, but he acknowledged police face difficulties.