By Spencer Sterritt

Perception problem, not crime problem, faces downtown Prince Albert

Feb 8, 2016 | 4:15 PM

According to business owners on Central Ave, issues in downtown Prince Albert aren’t criminal.

“It’s very much a perception [issue],” Fresh Air Experience owner Ron Horn said. “If somebody comes up to you and asks you for a cigarette or a light or spare pocket change, if you feel threatened and that it’s a dangerous situation, then I guess maybe don’t ever leave your house.” 

He said he and his coworkers feel safe downtown, and have no issues about closing up shop after dark.

“Is there the occasional domestic dispute that happens on the street…the occasional drinking out of a brown paper bag? For sure there is. But you know what, that’s just the mosaic of our city.”

Prince Albert Police Service (PAPS) chief Troy Cooper said according to their 2015 stats, which they’re still working through, crime in the downtown held steady. There was a decrease in motor vehicle theft, a small increase in property offenses and no change in break-and-enter rates.

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Chief Cooper is most proud of the reduction in public intoxication calls, which he attributed to housing initiatives for those who would normally spend their night in a jail cell. PAPS received 15 per cent less calls for public intoxication and 500 less people were held in cells for the offense.

He acknowledged the image problem surrounding Prince Albert’s downtown. “The reason we put people down there is the idea of that perception. It’s just as important that people feel safe as it is that they are safe.”

Constable Doug Hobson with PAPS is assigned downtown. According to Cooper, Hobson was surprised at the lack of vagrancy and criminal acts. Hobson allegedly said it was a “slow” beat.

“I understand that it’s a lot of people’s perception, but our experience here hasn’t been that it’s any more particularly unsafe,” Cooper said. “In fact I think it’s a safe area of the city.”

Cooper said the perception might have to do with the fact that social services is downtown, as well as a university. “When people see young people, they sometimes draw a connection there.”

Horn echoed the statement, saying “there’s a certain element of our community that use the downtown as their social environment, but they’re certainly not criminal.”

Paradoxically, Horn said the movement of major stores out of Prince Albert’s downtown helped decrease crime in the area. “Moving bigger stores like the Coop away from downtown impacted the economic viability of downtown, and also…moved some of the undesirables away from the downtown because there was less easy pickings for shoplifting and so on.

“That element will move to where there’s a higher volume of traffic, so you don’t get noticed. But down here, you get noticed and that’s maybe what people notice.”

Melanie Quintall, owner of Funky Fresh bistro at the north end of Central Ave., said she doesn’t feel any threats being downtown. “Since I’ve been in business I haven’t had anyone come in with aggression, or not felt safe. It’s been very good.”

She did say her overall impression of Prince Albert’s downtown was “mixed.”

“I can see where there’s some issues further south near the mall. That area needs to be improved. At [the north] end it’s great, at the other end I’d say it’s not so great.”

Horn said P.A.’s downtown would benefit most from a public relations and education push.

“I think we as a city need to take a look at the downtown and put solutions in place to the problems that people perceive exist. If we look at a city like Moose Jaw, they’ve got a great downtown. Why? Because there was a will to change it and make it one of the best places to spend time in that city.”

paNOW asked Prince Albert residents through a poll on Friday, Feb. 5, if they felt safe downtown.

As of Monday, Feb. 8 at 5 p.m. nearly 2,500 votes have been cast. 65 per cent say they feel unsafe, 19 per cent vote they do feel safe and 17 per cent of votes say they don’t go downtown. 

The Facebook post about the poll received hundreds of  divisive comments and replies.

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ssterritt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit