Over 100 residents gathered last night to voice their concerns over increased criminal activity in the centre city area of St. John’s which they say is holding the neighbourhood hostage. Many of those in attendance last night signed up to form a Neighbourhood Watch to combat the problem.
Police officers, government officials and St. John’s Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O’Leary were also in attendance.
One resident says the city should be doing more, like creating a municipal police force, similar to that in Mount Pearl.
One resident addressed Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O’Leary, saying he believes the city needs to put more funding into enforcement. He says it’s not fair to leave all the issues for the RNC to deal with.
O’Leary says policing does not fall under the city’s jurisdiction. She says crime prevention is funded by the provincial government, but the city does work with programs such as Neighbourhood Watch and mental health and addictions services.
Slum landlords and inadequate social, mental health and addictions supports were among the key themes of a gathering at the Hub last night as concerned.
Residents and business owners are concerned about an increase in criminal activity in the area and are left feeling helpless in addressing a problem that runs deep.
Many residents pointed out an apparent gap in supports for vulnerable people, and O’Leary, a vocal mental health advocate, agreed. She says collaboration with the provincial government is essential.
A local group that works with people who have difficulty finding safe and affordable housing admits there are difficulties with some landlords, but the main issue many people are facing is affordability.
Cyril Tobin of the NL Housing and Homelessness Network says there are landlords who are not providing the supports they say they are providing, but the number is small.
Tobin says rent is increasing dramatically, and a two hundred dollar a month increase for someone who has less than $30,000 dollars a month to live on, “is outrageous.”
Neighbourhood Services Fieldworker Jennifer McGrath says they’re currently in the process of removing old Neighbourhood Watch signs from groups that no longer exist. @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/E6Zx2wtemd
— Sara Strickland (@_SaraStrickland) October 27, 2022
A representative for the Neighbourhood Watch program is reminding residents of the importance of reporting incidents to police and not just posting them on social media.,
Neighbourhood Services fieldworker Jennifer McGrath says although a number of people take to social media to share incidents they’ve witnessed, it will not be investigated until it’s reported.
McGrath says social media is not monitored by enforcement groups. She says oftentimes someone will post an incident online to spread awareness instead of reporting it to the police.