VicPD have shared an update on their ‘Community Safety Plan’ which seeks to rid Pandora Avenue and Ellice Street of encampments and boulevard sheltering.
The plan was put into place shortly after July 11th, when a paramedic providing aid to an individual on Pandora Avenue was attacked.
A situation ensued where tensions arose between some of the unhoused community and first responders.
Following this incident, VicPD Chief Constable Del Manak announced that police would need to be required for any first responder to aid those sheltering on Pandora Avenue, Ellice Street, and other unspecified areas where unhoused individuals are prominent.
In early August, a formal plan was laid out by VicPD to increase enforcement and conduct frequent sweeps of Pandora Avenue and Ellice Street.
Attempts were reportedly made to find the individuals adequate shelter or move them to the three remaining parks in which overnight sheltering is permitted.
Victoria’s Mayor Marianne Alto was in support of this plan, and said the City would be putting in place options aside from park sheltering for unhoused Victorians in the coming months.
This plan was laid out in three stages: increased patrolling in the areas, sheltering enforcement and encampment removal.
VicPD say that since they have implemented the first stages of this plan, between July 19th and September 6th, they have:
- Made 50 arrests, focussing on targeting the criminal element
- Arrested 10 individuals with warrants
- Seized 17 knives, four cans of bear spray, two BB guns, an airsoft rifle and a rifle scope
- Seized 330 grams of fentanyl, 191 grams of crack cocaine, 73 grams of powder cocaine, 87 grams of crystal meth and seven grams of marijuana
- Seized over $13,500 in relation to drug trafficking investigations
- Recovered five bicycles suspected of being stolen
VicPD estimates the total cost of the encampment removal operation will be $79,550.
The plan’s next steps
VicPD say that because conditions have improved on Pandora Avenue and Ellice Street, paramedics and firefighters have stated they no longer need a police escort to provide aid to those in need, unless there is a specific safety concern.
“The project has so far been a success in that we are accomplishing our goals of reducing overall entrenchment in the areas, creating a safer environment for those sheltering in the area, for other first responders and for service providers, and building stronger relationships with those in the street community,” said Deputy Chief of Operations Jamie McRae.
“There are larger issues outside of our scope that need to be addressed by our partners, but we will continue to do our part in improving safety in these areas of the City.”
VicPD is now in week nine of the plan which means they are moving onto stage three—complete encampment removal.
This effort is colloquially called a ‘sweep’, and is defined by the Alliance to End Homelessness in the Capital Region as the “removal of unsanctioned shelters and belongings.”
On August 27th, a witness told Victoria Buzz that while driving through the 900-block of Pandora Avenue, the sweeps were in full effect.
They described the sight as “harrowing” and said that there were street cleaners out and trucks full of bikes, tents and other belongings.
The City maintains that they do not conduct ‘sweeps’, but rather they educate those sheltering unlawfully and enforce City bylaws.
Through this effort, VicPD claims they will collaborate with partner agencies and service providers to find temporary or permanent housing for those living along Pandora Avenue and Ellice Street.
VicPD added that they will not be leading this effort, the City’s Bylaw Services will be, but they will provide advice during planning sessions and assist with the final removal of the encampments.
“Our primary focus as police is to address public safety concerns,” continued Deputy Chief McRae.
“Achieving meaningful, long-term changes the community is asking for requires a collaborative effort from all agencies involved, including every level of government and our service providers.”
Notably, the success of stage three of VicPD’s plan is contingent on whether or not there are spaces available for those being swept from Pandora Avenue and Ellice Street.
Both BC Housing and the City have been making moves to open more shelter spaces, however there currently is not enough to house all of the individuals needing shelter.
“There are currently 305 shelter spaces and 1,267 supportive housing units in operation in Victoria, with most are at [sic] or near capacity,” said Laura McLeod, Senior Communications Advisor, BC Housing.
“We understand there is an immediate need for more shelter and supportive housing options on Pandora street and across Victoria and so efforts are currently underway to open additional shelter spaces in the near future.”
Recently, Our Place opened additional beds, the site formerly known as ‘Tiny Town’ on Caledonia Avenue reopened and St. John Divine Church has been converted from a temporary emergency weather response shelter to a full time overnight shelter offering 30 beds, which has added 100 shelter spaces.
The last official count of unhoused Victorians in 2023 says there are at least 1,663 people in shelters or sleeping rough on the streets and in parks.
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