Ask any group of people what they want from their neighbourhood and they will likely tell you the same things: a place with good neighbours and the ability to feel safe and secure.

These essential elements of a good neighbourhood can quickly disappear, however, when illegal drugs enter the picture. Formerly safe streets can feel threatening. Property values can decline as drug activity introduces a criminal element, and associated problems such as sex trade, break-and-enter crimes and other types of theft can become the new normal.                    

The best defence against drug activity in your neighbourhood is to be aware of the signs that they are being used or sold and then to take action with local police.

Even though the sale and use of drugs are usually conducted in the shadows, residents can become aware of drug activity in their neighbourhood if they know the signs. When drugs are regularly sold in a public place, such as a street corner or park, some of the signs include cars driving slowly and repeatedly through the area, money or small packages being exchanged between individuals, and the presence of drug paraphernalia, such as small plastic baggies, bundled or twisted pieces of cellophane, pieces of balloon, hypodermic needles and needle caps, and small glass vials or pipes.

“You may begin to notice various crimes taking place: car break-ins, purse snatching, petty theft, some prostitution,” says Staff Sergeant Pete Gauthier of the Special Operations/Drug Section of the Ottawa Police Service.

“The crimes occur so that the person who needs the drug can sell the items to purchase them. These crimes won’t occur far from the point of sale.”

Quite often, that point of sale is a house. “Drug houses” also have telltale characteristics. Neighbours may notice that the house always has closed shades or curtains and paranoid, unfriendly or secretive occupants. The property may have extensive security measures and even individuals who appear to be lookouts.

Drug houses receive a steady flow of short visits by different people, often at odd hours. These visitors may bring items and leave without them or exchange money or small packages at or near the house. Sometimes drug paraphernalia will be found near the property.

The Ottawa Police Service is very active in investigating and prosecuting drug traffickers and abusers in the city.

“We spend a lot of time watching and observing suspected drug houses, talking to numerous people, sometimes going door to door, speaking to informants, and holding community meetings,” says Staff Sergeant Gauthier.

The Police Service also works closely with community members to reduce drug activity. These relationships have led to significant successes in several neighbourhoods.

The community of Hintonburg is a prime example.

“The change in our neighbourhood happened virtually overnight. All of a sudden there were people staggering around, more street activity and prostitution,” says Cheryl Parrott, co-chair of the Security Committee of the Hintonburg Community Association.

 The volunteer committee works with political representatives at all levels, city staff and local police to improve their neighbourhood. They have taken several approaches to remove drug houses, including writing letters to property owners, easing neighbours’ anxiety about contacting police and the association, creating a John School to reform men soliciting prostitutes, and organizing neighbourhood walks in the evening.

“We walked and we showed the successes. We told people what they need to do. You do need to call the police; you do need to talk to councillors. You do need to call. Those calls make a difference,” says Ms. Parrott.

The association also started a successful needle pick-up program, and a taskforce on problem properties that works to highlight properties, particularly drug houses.

“Our ‘One House at a Time’ strategy has been very effective,” says Ms. Parrott.

“We see the connection clearly: If the crack houses aren’t here, the prostitutes aren’t here and the break-and-enters aren’t here.”

The strategy has been so effective that the Hintonburg area went from being a community with one of the highest "calls for service" to police to one of the communities with the second lowest calls last year.

She notes that meeting regularly with police, having a formal neighbourhood body to keep neighbours informed, and establishing communications with other communities is important to share experience and knowledge.

Ottawa Police Service has Community Policing Centres in neighbourhoods throughout the city. You can walk in at any time and speak to Neighbourhood Officers who are familiar with the community. They can work with you to organize community meetings or to respond to your concerns about drug activity.

“It’s good to know and communicate with your neighbours so that you’re prepared to react,” says Staff Sergeant Gauthier.

“The key is to get involved. You don’t have to interact directly with the people you suspect of illegal activity. Contact the OPS drug section at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300,speak to neighbourhood police officers, or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 613-233-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-222-8477.”

Crime Prevention Ottawa contributes to crime reduction and enhanced community safety in Ottawa through collaborative evidence-based crime prevention (www.crimepreventionottawa.ca).