Fredericton police unit targets public drug use, minor offences in business zones
A specialized Fredericton police squad created last year has carried out nearly thirty operations in commercial areas to combat open narcotics consumption and small-scale criminal activity.
Fredericton police unit targets public drug use, minor offences in business zones
Officers in New Brunswick's capital have activated a dedicated squad close to thirty times since its launch to combat open narcotics consumption and small-scale criminal activity in commercial corridors.
The direct action response squad, referred to as DART, began operations last year and concentrates on business improvement districts throughout the municipality, explained Insp. David Cooper, who directs force operations and patrols. Citizen and merchant complaints trigger the unit's actions.
Cooper clarified that officers target unlawful conduct rather than personal circumstances such as lacking housing or struggling with psychological conditions. He stressed that being without shelter or living with addiction does not constitute a crime, whereas consuming controlled substances in public spaces while breaking laws does.
Department figures show total criminal incidents decreased by seventeen per cent from 2023 to 2024, with property-related violations falling thirty per cent. Federal statistical agency data also places the province's crime severity measure lower, moving from 87.78 to 84.53 across the same timeframe.
Michael Boudreau, who teaches criminology at St. Thomas University, warned that boosting patrols and creating specialized units might calm public anxiety yet fails to address fundamental drivers. He observed that local governments frequently rely on law enforcement because housing assistance and social services usually belong to provincial jurisdiction. Boudreau noted that Canadian narcotics legislation stretches back more than a century and argued that penal measures cannot overcome dependency disorders.
Source: CBC
Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)