Local politicians and business leaders see the hiring of the private security force to patrol public streets — a rarity in Canada — as part of a collaborative effort to help people living on those streets. “They don’t want them on private property, and they don’t want them on public property,” said Christeen Thornton, executive director of anti-poverty advocacy group DIRE. “Some of them have very severe mental health and addiction issues,” said Carter, who said he was once homeless himself. “That is not part of their role or responsibility.”A number of cash-strapped U.S. cities have hired private security to patrol their downtown instead of hiring more pricey police staff, but it has rarely been seen north of the border. In 2017, Peterborough’s downtown Business Improvement Area hired security guards to make the district safer over the summer, but the initiative wasn’t renewed after criticism that it would criminalize homelessness.

Source: thestar July 12, 2020 15:05 UTC