@TorontoPolice Neighbourhood TAVIS Initiative 2014

Neighbourhood Approach Creates Safer Space The Moss Park/South St. Jamestown neighbourhoods will get a focused police response after 51 Division officers were successful in reducing violent crime over the summer by nearly a third. Four officers will be assigned to the area as Neighbourhood Officers with the mandate to reduce crime, much of it related to substance abuse, and develop partnerships with community members and social service agencies. The Neighbourhood TAVIS (Toronto Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy) Initiative (NTI), a 29-officer team, managed a 29% reduction in violent crime, assault, firearms, kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, weapons and robbery) in the area bounded by Wellesley St to the north, Queen St to the south, Church St to the west and Parliament St to the east, roughly covering the south St. Jamestown and Moss Park neighbourhoods. “I think the ongoing neighbourhood officer initiative came about directly due to the light shone by the NTI… it showed management (at 51 Division) that we require a more focused neighbourhood officer response,” said Elizabeth Byrnes, Superintendent at 51 Division. The NTI team consisted of 24 constables, four supervisors and one staff sergeant – who covered day and afternoon shifts on foot and bike patrol with the mandate to respond to community crime concerns as well as build partnerships with community members and social service agencies. “The NTI is not tied down to the radio… we are out there communicating with community leaders, with citizens… and so we are able to build bridges between the police and the community,” said Constable Dave Smith, of having the freedom over the summer to target community concerns.