A city initiative to provide 24-7 security downtown and along the Tranquille corridor on the North Shore is being well-received by the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association.
Executive Director Carl DeSantis says prior to private security taking over, the responsibility of security and keeping an eye on nuisance behaviour fell largely on the shoulders of the CAP team. He tells NL News that led to a number of limitations.
“The CAP Team – we don’t have that capacity to work through the night,” DeSantis said. “It is observe, report, but its also they’ve got the authority to tell people to move along from the property if they’re doing inappropriate things absolutely. But as far as arrest, detention, they don’t have those authorities, no.”
In an open letter today, the North Shore Business Improvement Association says that more accountability is needed because of intentional vandalism and other crimes that has the city in a “state of siege.”
NSBIA Executive Director Jeremy Heighton used a recent act of vandalism at the Jamaican Kitchen as an example. The front door of the restaurant on Tranquille Road near Yew Street was smashed on Sunday night and a safe was stolen, along with cash and alcohol.
“It illustrates so clearly what we have been telling the city, RCMP and others over the last 18 months: we are in a state of siege in our city over the lack of accountability for vandalism, criminality and issues which erode our sense of safety,” Heighton said.
The NSBIA is calling for a review of community safety mechanisms in the city of Kamloops.
DeSantis meanwhile notes the private security guards now in place have vehicles allowing them to conduct these patrols all night long both downtown and on the North Shore, unlike the CAP team which patrols largely on foot and on bicycles.
“It’s just one step closer to really making a big difference downtown. The security program as I understand is going to continue until the fall at which time the CSO program – the Community Safety Officer program – will be up to speed,” DeSantis added.
“They will be up to capacity, and they will assume responsibility for around the clock monitoring of all these inappropriate behaviour.”
The initiative began in early April at a cost of $75,000 with the money coming from the COVID-19 Safe Restart Fund.
(Photo via Lapper Entertainment & Security)
