VIDEO: $30K in drugs seized as community police teams curb crime in downtown Brampton

The Chief of Peel Regional Police says community street teams will be a permanent fixture on the force following a months-long operation to curb lawless activity in downtown Brampton.

Dubbed Project Order, the operation was launched by Peel Regional Police in the summer after hearing concerns of repeated illegal activity from businesses and residents in the city’s downtown.

With an increased police presence in the downtown area investigators say some $30,000 in drugs including cocaine and fentanyl were seized and 50 arrest warrants were issued.

But police used more than just handcuffs to curb crime downtown, calling in members of specialized teams to help at-need residents.

“It was quickly determined that underlying societal issues required much more than enforcement alone,” PRP Chief Nishan Duraiappah said in a statement.

Peel police used its newly formed Community Intervention and Response Team (CIRT), Divisional Mobilization Unit (DMU) and crime prevention officers to link at-risk community members with community services and referrals, leading to what Duraiappah called “successful non-enforcement strategies.”

With more CIRT officers on foot and bicycle cops stationed downtown to increase the police presence in the area, the chief said police increased their engagement with businesses and residents and cracked down “on lawless behaviour in the downtown Brampton business area.”

“As a result, this has reduced the amount of illegal behaviour in this community and addresses the needs of area residents and business owners,” he said.

Duraiappah said that the CIRT teams have now been made a permanent part of the force following a one-year pilot and have been rolled out across the Region of Peel.

Police say at least 20 arrests related to drugs were made during the operation, another 40 arrests related to the Liquor License Act and trespassing, and two search warrants were executed.