Out of a covert public safety blitz in downtown Victoria, a bigger issue around the idea of responsibility around street crime and disorder in the capital city is emerging.
“A service provider is coming out, engaging with this drug trafficker while this drug trafficker is making transactions. It’s unprofessional. I’m extremely disappointed to see that,” said Victoria Police Chief Del Manak on Tuesday. “That is absolutely unacceptable.”
As part of ‘Project 3D’, Victoria undercover officers observed a service provider talking with a man posted up in a lawn chair allegedly trafficking cocaine to a lineup of customers, on the front stoop of an Island Health consumption site on the 900-block of Pandora called The Harbour.
That man was arrested, one of 16 arrests over a two-day undercover blitz Victoria Police conducted.
Also arrested, Victoria Police says, is a repeat offender with two outstanding mainland warrants arrested in the 900-block of Pandora Avenue, and a man arrested for trafficking fentanyl one day, then cocaine the next.
“We have a lot of people that are exploitating our most vulnerable people by distributing illicit and potentially toxic drugs on our streets,” said Manak. “They’re not welcome in our community.”
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Disrupting this criminal activity, covertly, the chief says, will be a dedicated and ongoing initiative. And as they up their game, they’re asking community partners and the public to step up as well.
“I do expect that if someone is set up out your front door, and you know they’re carrying out drug trafficking sales, you have to say something,” said Manak.
As for the health authority, specifically, the capital city’s police chief had tough words.
“I can tell you the health authority needs to be better. They need to do a better job,” said Manak.
“I am aware the dealers are going to go where the people are, that’s not rocket science, but we just can’t make it so easy that they’re set up directly outside the consumption site.”
Island Health didn’t answer CHEK News’ questions if they would be following up with staff or making policy changes. Instead, it sidestepped responsibility.
“It is not within the mandate or purview of a health authority or its staff to respond to potential criminal activity occurring on a public street – that is within the purview of law enforcement,” said Island Health in a statement.
The chief says there’s no room for apathy, given the crime and disorder issues the capital city is facing.
He says service providers, even the public, have a part to play to step up, move people along, or call 911.
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