Peterborough Police Announce No-Tolerance Policy For Public Open-Air Illicit Drug Use, Effective Immediately

A no-tolerance policy on open-air illicit drug use in public spaces is being enforced, effective immediately, announced by Stuart Betts, Peterborough Police Chief, at the police station on Thursday morning.

Betts addressed the media at the Peterborough Police Station on Thursday morning. This is the first time a policy like this has been enacted in Ontario. Photo by David Tuan bui.

“We see people who are consuming drugs, injecting drugs, smoking drugs in our parks, our playgrounds, our bus shelters and in front of our businesses,” said Betts. “This is creating an environment that community members have expressed concern and fear.”

Betts continued to add that only 48 per cent of people felt safe in our community from the results of a community safety well-being plan.

“Members of this community can expect police officers will not tolerate people injecting and smoking up in front of public places, places where our community members should feel safe,” said Betts.

This system is the first in Ontario to be implemented and second in the country only to Edmonton, A.B. They dealt with violence and unpredictable responses from substance use.

“I don't want us to get to a point where we're having to address random acts of violence so we have an opportunity right now to help promote coverall community public safety, this is the front end of that,” said Betts.

Known as the ‘The Safer Public Spaces’ approach, the Police say it is about balancing the needs and expectations of all residents in our community. 

Betts says the police understand and recognize the need for a compassionate response for those suffering from addictions and expect officers to be kind in their engagements with individuals. However, the Service also knows that the community expects public places such as parks, places of business and most importantly places where our children go should also be safe.

“As we adopt this approach, it is important to acknowledge that addiction is an illness and it is not the intent of the Peterborough Police Service to criminalize those who are afflicted with this illness,” said Betts. “The intent is to promote the message that the Service is committed to safer public spaces for all residents. We will continue to work within a system that supports those whose mandate is the promotion of public health and while we know it is an imperfect system, public safety cannot wait for perfection.”

If officers see open-air illicit drug use or receive a call for service, the Police will attend and direct that person to stop and move to a different location. The Service will ensure people are provided information (if they choose to accept it) that speaks to the resources available in our community.

Marijuana is exempt from this policy since the Cannabis Act has its own provisions on where people can and possess it.

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