Vancouver mayor backs new DTES policing district

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim announced on Monday that permanent policing changes will replace ‘Task Force Barrage’, as the initiative’s six-month funding comes to an end.

At a press conference, Sim credited the $ 5 million initiative for helping to push violent crime to its lowest recorded level in more than two decades through the first two quarters of 2025.

“Violent crime in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) and across the city is down significantly. As of today, our numbers are the same as they were in 2002. That’s a 23-year low,” said Sim.

Building on the ‘Task Force Barrage’ success, Sim said that the temporary task force will now be replaced with a new policing district.

“We will move towards making DTES its own geographical policing district,” explained Vancouver Police Department’s (VPD) Chief Constable Steve Rai, who had joined Sim at the press conference.

“District 5 will be a historical change from the city’s four district policing model.”

He said that this will be a continuation of the increased police presence in the area.

“The community supports this because everyone knows that more officers mean less crime and safer streets.”

The change will come gradually, as the DTES will, for now, remain part of District 2, which includes the northeast of the city.

Rai explained that the first step towards the new policing district is the establishment of a new senior management structure within the VPD to provide more oversight and direction in the neighborhood.

“Our new management structure will allow us to be more responsive to emerging crime trends and Community needs,” he said.

“It will lead to more arrests, a greater police presence, and safer streets.”

New reporting program should track performance

Additionally, Mayor Sim announced a motion that, if approved by the Vancouver city council in October this year, would bring together different city departments to one table to “track outcomes and report progress back to the public.”

“VanStat will allow for monthly performance review meetings which incorporate data from the City’s police, fire, sanitation, housing, arts and culture, and business services departments.”
He said this will lead to better transparency and “regular public reporting so everyone knows what’s working.”

Sim explained that during ‘Task Force Barrage’, between February and late August this year, “hundreds of weapons and firearms have been seized.”

Additionally, Fire Chief Karen Fry, who also spoke to reporters, said that in the same time period structure fires decreased by 34 per cent.

“Our medical incidents have dropped by 28 per cent, while false alarm responses have declined by 31 per cent,” she added.

Critics of the task force have called it “reactive,” ineffective in preventing crime, and capable of doing more harm than good to the vulnerable residents of the DTES.