Vancouver – Street-level assaults and other violent crimes have decreased in the Downtown Eastside since Vancouver Police launched a dedicated task force in the neighbourhood last month.

VPD established Task Force Barrage on February 13 to restore safety in the Downtown Eastside by targeting organized criminals, violent offenders, and street disorder that leads to increased crime and victimization. For the past five weeks, VPD has deployed additional front-line officers to the area, while simultaneously launching coordinated investigations to target drug traffickers and organized criminals.

“This task force is a sustained effort that builds on the work we were already doing to make the Downtown Eastside and surrounding neighbourhoods safer,” says Inspector Gary Hiar, commanding officer of VPD’s District 2, which includes the Downtown Eastside.

“Deploying more officers to the areas most impacted by violence and crime has allowed us to take a more proactive approach in reducing crime, while putting us in a position to make arrests when crimes do occur.”

During the first four weeks of the initiative, VPD officers:

  • responded to 4,760 calls for service in the Downtown Eastside – on average 170 calls a day.
  • seized 197 weapons, including guns, tasers, prohibited knives, and makeshift weapons
  • executed 153 arrest warrants
  • made 204 total criminal code arrests – on average seven per day.

In addition, highly-visible police patrols have allowed VPD officers to seize more dangerous weapons and reduce violent crime in the Downtown Eastside.

Between February 13 and March 13:

  • weapon seizures increased 258 percent in the Downtown Eastside
  • assaults decreased from four per day to three per day, on average
  • assaults with weapons decreased 30 per cent, compared to the previous four weeks

“The Downtown Eastside is a diverse community with complex public safety issues. Whenever issues are this complex, the answers are rarely simple,” adds Inspector Hiar.

“While there’s still much work to do, the results we’re seeing are positive and we’re committed to staying the course.”