In response to neighbourhood complaints and an dramatic increase in calls for service, Peterborough police will once again be arresting people who are openly using illicit drugs in the area surrounding the Trinity Community Centre at 360 Reid Street.
Located in the former Trinity United Church and operated by One City Peterborough with funding from the City of Peterborough, the Trinity Community Centre opened in November 2023 and provides services for people who are marginalized, unsheltered, or both, offering a daytime drop-in program with meals as well as an overnight program.
In a media release issue on Tuesday night (November 19), police announced they would be suspending their “Safer Public Spaces” approach to open-air illicit drug use in the Trinity Community Centre neighbourhood.
Under the approach, which was launched in October 2023, police officers who respond to a complaint about or observe people using illicit drugs outside in a public space request that they stop doing so and move to another location, such as the Consumption and Treatment Services on Simcoe Street where illicit injectable drugs can be injected legally.
With Safer Public Spaces, police do not arrest the person and seize the illegal drugs, unless the person refuses to comply with the request, has committed another criminal offence, or has an outstanding warrant for their arrest.
“We do not want to criminalize anybody who has an addiction — that is not our intent,” Peterborough police chief Stuart Betts said when announcing Safer Public Spaces. “Our intent is to ensure that they are provided with the resources they need and the direction they need to where they can go to safely use these substances.”
With the suspension of Safer Public Spaces in the Trinity Community Centre neighbourhood, police will instead arrest those observed using illicit drugs outside in a public space.
“In all cases, those arrested will be searched (after) arrest, in accordance with common law authority, and any illegal substances will be seized for destruction,” the media release states. “If charges are appropriate, they will be laid, but it may be enough to release unconditionally.”
Police add they will also investigate people found committing a criminal or provincial offence — including defecating on property, possessing stolen property, and trespassing — and, if appropriate, arrest and charge them.
It is not clear from the release if police were not previously investigating such incidents, although the release notes that their ability to respond depends on available police resources.
“As a police service, we know that providing compassionate care and a place to escape the weather and sleep is important, especially as we are entering the coldest months of the year,” the release states, adding that Trinity Community Centre plays a “vital role” for the unhoused population. “However, as police, we do not endorse criminal activity on the premises or in the surrounding community.”
According to police, there were 168 calls for service in the neighbourhood in 2022, a year before the Trinity Community Centre opened. In 2023, the number of calls for service increased to 261 and, in 2024, jumped to 700.
“We have been compassionate in our approach to those who are in need of the services provided by One City Peterborough at the Trinity Church location,” Chief Betts states in the media release. “However, the behaviours by some have created a situation that can no longer be adequately addressed through such means.”
“We continue to believe that many of those accessing the services at Trinity Church are in need of support, but our approach needs to respect the community safety and well-being for all, and we are being clear in what that will look like.”
The media release also states that, when it comes to the Trinity Community Centre property itself, the City of Peterborough, One City Peterborough, and the Peterborough Police Service will be working on an agreement “of both short-term and long-term solutions.”
Police say that their change of approach is a response to hearing from residents, businesses, and clients of Trinity Community Centre “that the current way is not working to fully address ongoing concerns and ensure a safe environment for all.”
Tuesday’s police announcement came at the end of two days of deliberations by Peterborough city council on the city’s draft 2025 budget, which includes a three per cent increase to the police budget. However, the Police Services Board has requested an 8.8 per cent increase to the police budget — which would add 1.44 per cent to the city’s property tax rate hike.
After city council completed its deliberations, the proposed 7.8 per cent tax hike had increased to eight per cent, exclusive of the budget requests of the police, paramedics, and health unit.
To keep the rate hike to seven per cent, council has asked city staff to report back with additional ideas to reduce spending and increase revenues and will request the Peterborough Police Services Board, Peterborough/County City Paramedic, and Peterborough Public Health to reconsider their 2025 budgets to keep the property tax increase within seven per cent.
