Frontline officers with the Peterborough Police Service conducted another focused patrol targeting open-air illicit drug use in the early evening hours of Thursday.
The patrol was in Quaker Park on Charlotte Street with assistance of the RPAS Unit around 7 p.m. on October 29.
As a result:
- 5 people were arrested for possession of a controlled substance
- No charges laid (option under Safer Public Spaces approach)
- 6 Provincial Offence Notices were issued for trespassing
Since its launch in October 2023, Peterborough Police’s Safer Public Spaces program has generated 2,036 calls for service, resulting in 323 arrests and 202 charges as of October 30, 2026. Downtown accounted for 63 per cent of calls, with 88 per cent generated by residents. The program began with an educational approach before moving to strict enforcement in June 2025, with police arresting individuals engaging in open-air illicit drug use and either releasing them without charges or proceeding with charges, while seizing drugs for destruction.
For more information, visit Outreach Teams | Peterborough Police Service.
