Regina Police board end of year meeting met with public distaste for police tactics

REGINA – The Regina Police Service’s (RPS) Trespass to Property initiative came under fire on Wednesday, as the board of police commissioners heard from the public.

First implemented in the spring of 2015, the initiative allows businesses to ban unwanted guests who may be intoxicated, harassing customers or shoplifting.

Police can also issue a $250 ticket to repeat offenders. But there are concerns that some are being targeted unfairly.

“I think that people are more important than businesses,” said Robyn Pitawanakwat, a downtown business owner. ” They are focusing on the most vulnerable people and ticketing them. There are so many businesses doing discriminatory practices.”

“These calls for service are for disturbances where people frequenting these businesses feel at risk,” added Regina Police Service Chief Troy Hagen.

READ MORE: New Regina police initiative tickets ‘unwanted guests’ downtown

In 2014, police responded to 3,000 calls regarding disturbances downtown.

So far for 2015, that number is down 18 percent, and in six months since the initiative has been implemented police said 136 bans have been handed out.

Out of those bans, there have been 38 tickets issued and only one charge of mischief.

“It’s been enforced for 6 months, it’s early days on that but the indicators are that it’s working well,” said Mayor Michael Fougere.

Still, some critics argue such initiatives require critical oversight and the police board is failing.

“The Mayor and two city councilors sit on the board of Police Commissioners and they are not neutral, they are not independent, they are not objective. They are boosters and apologists for everything the RPS does,” quipped Andrew Loewen, one of the presenters during the meeting.

But the Hagen defended the integrity of his force.

“We’re not insensitive to poverty, we’re not insensitive to addiction issues, mental health issues, homelessness. And as a matter of fact, as a police service we have a great deal of empathy,” said Hagen.

Those against the Trespass to Property initiative maintain that public awareness and social programs are better solutions.

But police using the initiative is the best tool they have and ideally keeps them from putting those vulnerable people behind bars.