Vancouver police are touting information they are saying exhibits a current $5 million crack down on crime within the Downtown Eastside is getting outcomes.
The Vancouver Police Division introduced Task Force Barrage in mid-February, a three-pronged plan to focus on organized and violent crime within the neighbourhood.
The initiative entails a surge of uniformed law enforcement officials, new co-ordinated and long-term investigations concentrating on gangs and elevated group partnerships.
“These further officers have given us energy in numbers and allowed us to do extra,” stated Insp. Gary Hiar, commanding officer of VPD’s District 2, which incorporates the Downtown Eastside.
“Final week there have been no robberies reported within the Downtown Eastside. The progress is evident whenever you stroll or drive down East Hastings Road. The sidewalks look cleaner and the streets began to look safer, however there may be nonetheless work to be accomplished and that work will take a while.”
On Thursday, police stated that they had responded to 4,760 calls within the Downtown Eastside within the first month of the undertaking.
Officers seized 197 weapons, together with weapons, tasers and knives, a 258 per cent improve.
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Police executed 153 arrest warrants and made 204 legal code arrests.
Over the identical interval, the common variety of assaults dropped from 4 per day to 3 per day within the DTES, and assaults involving weapons fell 30 per cent, in line with police.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim first introduced the elevated police presence within the Downtown Eastside in January as part of a much bigger undertaking to reshape the realm, which features a freeze on new supportive housing.
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