Designed to deter crime that results when patrons emerge from downtown drinking dens, the 50th Avenue Project could fall victim to a police shortage
Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 15/00) - A project aimed at deterring crime after the bars close in Yellowknife is in jeopardy of folding after only two years.
RCMP say lack of resources may mean the end of the 50th Street project.
The initiative was created two years ago to discourage criminal behaviour in the early morning hours when many intoxicated people spill from the bars around downtown.
"It is at definite risk with respect to resources we now possess at the detachment," said Sgt. Al McCambridge. "We do not have sufficient resources to have it run again."
RCMP placed between two and six extra officers on foot patrols in the area during peak weekend hours from June to September.
The result of the initiative, McCambridge said, was very successful.
"When you look at more serious offenses that had been occurring in the years past ... by removing the victims (intoxicated subjects) you are removing potential crime."
McCambridge said referring to putting people in the detachment's drunk tank.
"It was successful but hard to gauge by numbers because sometimes our mere presence is a deterrence."
That deterrence was noticed by RCMP when it saw how many parked vehicles were left in parking lots.
"When you see a police presence at bar closure you're not going to go and start up your car," McCambridge said.
"That was proven on a number of occasions."
Once an offence did occur on the busy street after last call at local drinking establishments, police were also available to intervene before it escalated into something more serious.
