Private security will be hired to help reducing the amount of issues caused by vagrants in the downtown and help shoppers feel safe. (Susan McNeil/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Downtown

Downtown businesses hire private security in trial run

Jun 21, 2022 | 5:00 PM

Starting July 1, there will be extra security in downtown Prince Albert in the form of two private security officers patrolling the streets five days per week.

The Prince Albert Downtown Business Improvement District’s (PABID) Rhonda Trusty said they’ve noticed the increase in vagrancy downtown and want to keep shoppers feeling safe.

“The security concerns are multi-faceted. We do have issues with vagrancy and people using the doorsteps of our business community as their lounging area,” she explained. “So of course, that dissuades people from coming to the downtown to shop.”

The organization has extra money in reserves from not holding the street fair over the pandemic and decided to use it to improve security.

Trusty said Prince Albert Security Services will have two officers patrolling the downtown area on Tuesdays through Saturdays until the end of September.

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Staff on duty will have a cell phone whose number has only been given to downtown businesses so they can call if they have any issues.

The company will work with the Prince Albert Police Service, she said, and the three groups have already met.

Trusty said the head of the security company has a positive approach.

“His approach is to be very proactive and educational. He wants to be able to provide them with the education as to where they can seek services,” Trusty explained.

People will be encouraged to move along or be connected to appropriate social services.

Trusty also said that people may assume the downtown area is where the highest homeless rates are but that is not the case, and the homeless population can be found elsewhere.

The group wants people to feel comfortable shopping in the heart of the city.

“We want to encourage the public that we are trying in mitigating some of their concerns for the safety of the downtown,” Trusty said.

A presentation Monday night to the executive meeting of city council drew support from all councillors, who affirmed the association’s decision to hire private security.

During the three months of the trial run, PABID will be keeping a careful count of the interactions between the hired security and people in the hopes of using the data to convince governments to provide some funding for a longer period of time.

“It’s about being proactive with the population that is struggling right now but also being proactive with the people that want to shop and have a positive experience in the downtown area,” Trusty said.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @princealbertnow