John Dance

So how do we prevent crime in our community? Greater use of technology and tried and true methods of “crime prevention through environmental design” (CPTED) were explained by Ottawa Police Services (OPS) Constable James Kennedy during a well-received presentation at a recent community association meeting.

Although he noted that Old Ottawa East is a “low crime” area, Kennedy advised use of a wide variety of techniques to reduce bike and parcel theft and deter break-ins. In addition, he set out what to do if there has been a crime or threat.

Ottawa Police Services (OPS) triages crime and complaint reports. To expedite this, OPS requests that residents report crimes in a variety of ways that reflect the severity and urgency of what is being reported. Image by Ottawa Police Services

“I highly suggest people get a security camera – you can get a decent camera for $50,” he said. With the introduction of affordable security cameras, OPS places less emphasis on the “neighbourhood watch” type of surveillance that used to dominate community crime prevention efforts.

In addition to “mechanical’ surveillance using cameras and “organized” surveillance like neighbourhood watch, Kennedy spoke of the importance of “natural” surveillance through landscaping and lighting. This involves efforts such as ensuring hedges and trees are well trimmed to provide good sightlines.

Kennedy also recommended improving “access control” and “territorial reinforcement” through such things as fences. “Properly located entrances, exits, fencing, landscaping and lighting can direct both foot and automobile traffic in ways that discourage crime,” he said.

“People protect territory that they feel is their own and have a certain respect for the territory of others,” he commented. “Fences, pavement treatments, art, signs, good maintenance and landscaping are some physical ways to express ownership.” OPS provides residents with CPTED audits and these can be arranged by emailing Constable Matt Hunt at HuntM2@ottawapolice.ca.

Porch Pirates

With the great increase in the use of on-line shopping and resulting home deliveries, “porch pirating” of the delivered goods has become a serious problem. Kennedy says that over the Christmas holidays home deliveries averaged over $250 per household, meaning there are increased opportunities for theft.

While there has been a decrease in violent crimes over the last year, there has been an increase in property crimes such as porch thefts.

To mitigate parcel theft, Kennedy recommended the use of parcel tracking to ensure delivered parcels are promptly retrieved; use of a conspicuous video doorbell to record activity at entrances; picking up parcels at designated locations like Canada Post offices; and having a mailbox sensor or parcel box. He noted that video doorbells are both a deterrent and a means of recording activity.

While the number of “break and enter” and “motor vehicle thefts” have declined over the past year, there has been an increase in “thefts $5,000 and under” due in large part because of parcel thefts. Image by Ottawa Police Services

Preventing Bike Theft

Although bike thefts are down, they remain a recurring problem for residents. Kennedy recommends storing bikes inside a house or a garage and not on a porch or at the side of a house. If you live in high-rise apartments and condominiums, his suggestion was to store your bike in a designated secured enclosure.

“Invest in a proper bike lock, such as a U-Lock that requires more time to defeat than a cable lock,” he said. “Use easy-to-see bike racks, properly anchored and not concealed by landscaping or structures [and] take your helmet and any bike accessories with you (if possible) to minimize being targeted.” He also suggested that cyclists should register bikes with 529 Garage, a free service available at project529.com/garage. According to the website, “This service has resulted in fewer stolen bikes and more stolen bikes returned to their owners.”

Reporting and Data

Kennedy urged residents to report crimes to OPS, regardless of their impact, noting that police responses are driven by an “intelligence-led policing model” and that “reports assist in dictating where resources should be deployed.”

While life-threatening crimes and those in progress should be reported with a 9-1-1 call, non-emergency crimes can be reported either by calling 613-236-1222 or through the OPS site at Ottawapolice.ca. By-law enforcement complaints such as parking violations should be registered with the city’s 3-1-1 telephone line or by email at 311@ottawa.ca.

Reports best taken on-line are those pertaining to theft, lost property, mischief and damage to property, theft from vehicle, drug complaints (using, selling), fraud, hate, and traffic.

In the case of 9-1-1 calls, key information is whether it’s a police, fire or ambulance requirement, the specific location, your identification, what is happening, who is involved (gender, age, full description), whether weapons are at play, and other relevant information such as safety concerns, priority, and nature of threat.

OPS triages the calls whereby lifethreatening calls are “priority 1,” crimes in progress are “priority 2,” and all other incidents are “priority 3 or 4.” In short, OPS officers arrive promptly for high-priority calls but cannot do so for others.

The OPS on-line “community safety data portal” (data.ottawapolice.ca) shows only three crime incidents in Old Ottawa East over the last year: a “theft $5,000 and under,” a “break and enter,” and an “assault,” all near the Lees LRT station. Evidently, the portal doesn’t show car break-ins, something that a number of residents experienced over the last year.

Workload, crime priorities and policing
the national capital are all challenges
to the level of OPS community service

Police Challenges

Constable Kennedy is the community policing officer for a populous area embracing Old Ottawa East, Old Ottawa South, the Glebe, Lowertown, Vanier and part of Centretown. This workload is indicative of the challenges that OPS faces.

The Ottawa Police Services’ “crime map” shows Old Ottawa East had, relative to the Glebe and Old Ottawa South, relatively few crimes over the last year. And the entire Capital Ward has notably fewer crimes than other central wards. Image by Ottawa Police Services

In the course of his remarks, Kennedy said that the traffic services unit of OPS is “30 percent of what it should be,” and duties pertaining to Ottawa being a national capital draw the traffic police away from traffic enforcement. Indeed, Old Ottawa East usually has OPS providing assistance during the annual Brantwood Remembrance ceremony, but this past year police officers were required elsewhere.

He described the speed and red-light cameras as “a good way of getting people to obey traffic laws,” and said someday cameras may be used to catch people making illegal turns. This comment was made in light of one resident at the meeting noting that police officers driving behind him did not pursue a driver who had turned illegally onto Colonel By Drive from westbound Hawthorne.

Kennedy also noted the challenges posed by the judicial system, notably the Jordan framework whereby the Supreme Court of Canada has required trials to be conducted within a reasonable time. The consequence of this requirement is that sometimes those who have been charged but not tried “within a reasonable time,” have their charges dropped. All of the related work that OPS has performed on such cases is then for naught. Further, those who had been charged and would have been convicted are then free to commit additional crimes. There are several reasons for the court system’s inability to conduct some trials within reasonable timeframes, including an inadequate number of judges.

With the great increase in the use of on-line
shopping and resulting home deliveries,
“porch pirating” of the delivered goods has
become a serious problem.

Georgia Blondon, OOECA’s director of health and safety, had invited Constable Kennedy to speak and she noted that “Constable Kennedy is adedicated community liaison officer and his presentation was professional and well researched.”

Blondin can be reached by email at health@ottawaeast.ca for community health and safety concerns or questions.