By Spencer Sterritt

‘We expect an immediate response:’ police task force to tackle temporary housing crime

Apr 9, 2019 | 5:20 PM

NANAIMO — With nearly constant police presence not deterring criminals, Nanaimo RCMP is now creating a task force to specifically handle crime at two temporary housing complexes.

The group of six general duty Nanaimo RCMP officers and plain clothes officers will tackle crime at both Newcastle Place and Labieux Place, starting in roughly two weeks. There’s currently one officer dedicated to handling files for the sites, which house approximately 150 people at any given time.

“Sometimes over-enforcement is necessary,” RCMP Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW. “We have the increase in calls for service and the increase in actual crime, so we know where to go.”

Calls for service rose dramatically in both housing areas after steadily increasing at a pace similar to what the rest of Nanaimo experienced. O’Brien stressed calls for service doesn’t indicate how many crimes actually occurred but said neighbours in the areas have “legitimate concerns.”

Nearly 2,000 calls for service were made to the areas in the last four months.

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O’Brien said the sites are hotspots and draw in criminals from all over Nanaimo.

“Not necessarily the residents in those two units but there are people associated with those units who we know are actively involved in crime.”

People hopping the fences set up around the buildings has been an ongoing issue. Security was already increased once to prevent people from going under or over the fences. A front office was also installed at Newcastle Place to better enforce a no-guest policy.

It’s also been alleged by Nanaimo city councillors the housing operators have not evicted tenants who broke the code of conduct stating they would follow the rules and not engage in criminal activity.

BC Housing confirmed 14 people were evicted by April 8, split evenly between the two sites.

A fire broke out in one of the rooms at Newcastle Place on Monday night, prompting the housing project to be evacuated. Nanaimo Fire Rescue couldn’t determine a cause of the fire. 

BC Housing could not provide an answer by publishing time saying if tenants had been evacuated.

During a presentation to Nanaimo city council, Nanaimo RCMP Supt. Cameron Miller said calls for service around the Port Place Shopping Centre, which was home to B.C.’s largest tent city in the summer of 2018, has decreased dramatically. More than 150 residents of the tent city were housed in Newcastle and Labieux Place, where calls for service are skyrocketing.

He estimated the population of those experiencing homelessness in Nanaimo will rise to 500 this summer.

O’Brien said police expect to see an immediate response around Newcastle and Labieux Place once the task force is on the ground.

There’s no timeline for the project or deadline to have results.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_Sterrit