Residents, businesses in West End send an open letter supporting WPS’ open drug enforcement strategy

Businesses and residents in Winnipeg’s West End are applauding police’s increased presence in the neighbourhood following criticism from outreach groups over the recent drug crackdown. And though police are yet to release the numbers, some of the stakeholders we spoke to say they’re already seeing positive changes on the ground. “The front of our store [...] The post Residents, businesses in West End send an open letter supporting WPS’ open drug enforcement strategy appeared first on CityNews Winnipeg .

Businesses and residents in Winnipeg’s West End are applauding police’s increased presence in the neighbourhood following criticism from outreach groups over the recent drug crackdown. And though police are yet to release the numbers, some of the stakeholders we spoke to say they’re already seeing positive changes on the ground. “The front of our store used to be a place for people to congregate and to openly use meth and drugs, defecate and all kinds of things,” said Susan Lockhart, the president of Just Like New To You Thrift Shop.

Susan Lockhart, the president of Just Like New To You Thrift Shop. (Nick Johnston, CityNews) Just Like New To You Thrift Shop is a non-profit located on Portage Avenue.

Lockhart says that over the years the store has experienced numerous thefts, an arson, and a break-in just in the past couple of months, with the most recent incident costing the store about $13,000. “For us, it’s about a third of our profits to cover the security costs,” said Lockhart. While Lockhart supports the increased police presence, she adds that it’s a temporary solution, and in some cases, it pushed people from the front of the store into the store’s back lane.

“I know that it certainly helped, but I do think it’s a band-aid solution, because they [police] come and they disappear and they come back,” said Lockhart. Along with Lockhart, Joe Kornelsen, the executive director of West End Biz, sent an open letter dated July 14 in support of Winnipeg Police Service’s safety enforcement initiative, but highlighted how there is a dire need for permanent solutions. Joe Kornelsen, the executive director of West End Biz.

(Nick Johnston, CityNews) “Further solutions are needed to address the root causes in the long term. We know we have to go beyond enforcement,” said Kornelsen.

Mitch Bourbonniere, a community outreach worker, said, “All it did was serve to have them go into hiding. We are working with the users, we are developing relationships, we are guiding them to a different path.” Mitch Bourbonniere, a community outreach worker.

(Nick Johnston, CityNews) Winnipeg police told CityNews in an email they are still in the midst of the evaluation process with no final decisions made regarding reporting, future activities, or the release of results. The post Residents, businesses in West End send an open letter supporting WPS’ open drug enforcement strategy appeared first on CityNews Winnipeg .