B.C. town hires private security guards to patrol homeless encampment, downtown core

The ithiel town of Smithers, B.C., testament be hiring common soldier certificate guards to supervise the community's homeless encampment and conduct periodic roaming patrols of the downtown core. 

The town of about 5,400 in northwestern B.C. Says the initiative is a necessary step to try to improve public safety. 

"We are not in a position to be able to hire direct staff, additional community safety officers," said Smithers Mayor Gladys Atrill. "This was a way where resources could be spread."

A contract was awarded to Blue Hawk Security during a closed session of the town's Sept. 9 council meeting, meaning discussion and debate of the decision was not open to the public. 

Starting in October, security personnel will be patrolling the Temporary Overnight Sheltering Area, in Veterans' Peace Park across from town hall from 7 p.m. To 7 a.m. Weekdays and 24 hours on weekends and statutory holidays. 

The town says it has committed to one year of funding, with the first contract lasting six months. The initial cost is $361,500, which includes $126,500 for infrastructure improvements to the encampment area, will be fully funded through the Northwest B.C. Resource Benefits Alliance, a regional association of 21 local governments. 

However, Atrill says the town recognizes this is not a long-term solution. 

"It feels like we've done everything we know how, including trying to get additional resources in terms of lobbying for shelter, for housing, etcetera and it's a pretty big rock to roll uphill," she says.

Atrill says the tent encampment has posed serious safety concerns in the community. In July, a 45-year-old man was charged with arson, following a large fire in the encampment that sent one person to hospital. 

She says she hopes the presence of security guards will deter criminal activity that impacts the whole town, including residents of the encampment.

"This seems like one thing we can try and we'll see if that does provide both benefit to people who are seeking that shelter location and to residents and businesses in town."

Atrill says the intention is not for the security guards to be "rough handling people" but to monitor the area and inform the RCMP, if necessary. 

She also said she recognized the program would be heavily scrutinized, including by those who live in the encampment and service providers, and that she would listening carefully to their feedback.

Separately, the Smithers RCMP detachment says its been working closely with the town on public safety initiatives. 

It recently secured funding from the provincial government through the Community Safety and Targeted Enforcement Program (C-STEP) to provide additional overtime shifts focused on proactive patrols in the downtown core and surrounding areas. 

"We have noticed an increase in health-related calls for service, and this funding allows us to meet people in the community before a crisis occurs" said Const. Jocelyn Foidart with Smithers RCMP. 

"The additional resources provided through C-STEP allow us to be more proactive in the downtown core, deter street-level crime, and make earlier connections to health and social supports." 

The issue of downtown safety has been affecting communities across the province and will be one of the lead topics at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention later this month in a session titled Disordered Downtown: Rethinking Care for Those in Need. 

Atrill says Smithers will continue to advocate to all levels of government for more resources including more accessible health and social supports, additional housing and shelter space. 

"Until we get the resources into this community to assist, I don't know how we're going to get out of this, but we feel it from our residents and businesses too that are bearing the brunt of it," she said. 

Reporter

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