By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

No crime spike near Red Deer’s overdose prevention site: RCMP

Feb 4, 2019 | 4:15 PM

With permanent supervised consumption services for Red Deer on the horizon, officials are looking to learn from experiences in Alberta’s two larger cities when it comes to the impacts on crime and needle debris.

According to a report this week by Global News, Calgary Police Service numbers indicate crime has risen in the vicinity of the SCS at the Sheldon Chumir Centre.

Meanwhile in Edmonton, Global also reports that needle debris is down near one SCS and up at another.

In Red Deer, a temporary overdose prevention site – the pre-cursor to permanent SCS – opened Oct. 1, 2018 adjacent to Safe Harbour.

Stacey Carmichael, Executive Director at Turning Point – which operates the OPS – says they are working with the municipality on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design at the permanent site, one block down from their current location.

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“We’ve been pro-actively working with The City of Red Deer on conditions for our business license to mitigate potential concerns, so things like a dedicated safety liaison, enhanced fencing and lighting, and video monitoring are all part of our plan going forward,” Carmichael says.

Carmichael also calls the numbers out of Calgary an “anomaly” in comparison with “robust research” from around the world.

“We really do take crime and public/social disorder quite seriously and we’re working really hard to try and mitigate any concerns that people may have or issues we may encounter.”

According to Corporal Karyn Kay with Red Deer RCMP, there has been no increase in crime around the OPS since it opened.

“I do think our response to it has been very positive and we work in collaboration with The City, as well as with Turning Point,” Kay says. “It’s a hot topic, and we don’t have the ability to change it, but our crime stats haven’t gone up there and we don’t expect them to.”

She also notes the new downtown team, as well as peace officers and regular members, do patrols in the area around the OPS.

Additionally, needle debris clean-up continues to be handled by the Downtown Business Association’s Clean Team, on top of the 150m radius monitored by Turning Point’s safety liaison.

DBA executive director Amanda Gould says since the OPS opened, the amount of needle debris throughout the downtown has decreased – proof the OPS is being used as intended.

“During the DBA Clean Team’s limited time operating in the Railyards area, I can confirm there is not a shortage of needle/debris to collect. However, it is important to note that we have never provided a service in this area before,” Gould says.

“I do not think we have solved the problem of needle debris and there is still more that can be done, but I do think that right now in the downtown core, we have a handle on it and the DBA is very proud to be part of the solution.”

In October 2018, the DBA received a 12-month contract from The City, but funded by the province, to provide needle pick-up in Railyards where the OPS is located.

Hours at the OPS remain 8 a.m. to midnight, but are expected to move to 24 hrs/day in the near future.