A spike in downtown violence this month – two shootings in five days – prompted a special meeting of Timmins city council Monday night.
Figures presented by police chief Sydney Lecky and deputy Darren Dinel show that the number of reported crimes across the city has actually been declining the past few years.
The chief said a sudden increase like the one so far in December, happens. He says the best way to keep it going down and not going back up is bail reform. “When we catch them, we need to keep them,” he remarked.
Council passed motions to ask the province for money and authority to move people living in encampments into semi-permanent housing, and for resources and enforcement tools to reduce illegal drug use in parks and other public spaces
It also instructed administration to audit lighting and cameras in all downtown areas of the city with a view to boosting them, and to report on whether reinstituting security patrols in the BIA area is needed.
