Saint John, New Brunswick, is starting a two-year pilot program deploying private security guards to high-crime areas to address public safety concerns. The program will focus on deterrence and de-escalation, aiming to support local businesses and residents.
The city of Saint John is implementing a two-year security program, known as the Community Safety and Security Team, in response to rising concerns about crime and public safety voiced by residents and local businesses. The program will deploy private security guards to high-crime areas, including the uptown core, Waterloo Village, and areas surrounding local shelters.
Amy Poffenroth, the city's commissioner of Growth and Community Services, emphasized that the primary focus of these guards will be deterrence and maintaining a visible presence in the designated service areas. The guards, provided by GardaWorld, will not possess arrest or enforcement powers. Their training will emphasize de-escalation techniques for non-emergency situations, along with mental health awareness, trauma-informed practices, and narcan use. The program, slated to commence in early February, carries an annual budget of $780,000.\Business owners and the local Chamber of Commerce have actively advocated for solutions to address the escalating crime rates, which they believe is linked to the growing issue of homelessness within the city. Pierre Castonguay, owner of The Nest Yoga, expressed his relief at the implementation of the program, citing the critical importance of a readily available contact point for immediate support in the face of dangerous situations. Castonguay and his partner have encountered criminal activities since their business's inception in 2023, incurring considerable expenses on security measures, such as additional staff and anti-theft tagging. While the situation has improved, Castonguay still experienced a recent incident where his business's front door was kicked in, leading to shattered glass. Devon Miller, manager of The Nest, acknowledged a noticeable improvement in police response times but also highlighted the challenges posed by individuals seeking shelter in open spaces. Nancy Tissington, executive director of Uptown Saint John, underscored the program's value in providing support to business owners who may not always want to involve the police but need assistance.\The implementation of this security program comes in the wake of a nearly 10% increase in Saint John's crime severity index, a metric used by Statistics Canada to assess both the number and the severity of crimes, between 2023 and 2024. Criminology professor Michael Boudreau cautioned about the potential for accidental injury during interventions and raised concerns regarding the accountability of private security officers, highlighting the absence of formal complaint mechanisms comparable to those available for police officers. Boudreau also stated that although private security has given some comfort in Fredericton, it will take more time and crime data to determine the program's success in Saint John. In response to these concerns, the city stated that the training curriculum is designed to minimize conflict and physical intervention. City staff say situations involving injury are expected to be extremely rare. The city maintains comprehensive oversight of the program, including performance standards, codes of conduct, supervision, and mandatory training protocols. The success of the program will be closely monitored, with data collection and analysis being integral to assessing its effectiveness in bolstering public safety and addressing community concerns
Crime Security Saint John Public Safety De-Escalation
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