Hampstead security conducts park presence, pool safety operations

By Joel Goldenberg, October 31st, 2012

Hampstead public security conducted “Operation Park Presence” this year, resulting in numerous visits to parks, and investigations and expulsions for illegal activity, Councillor Leon Elfassy said recently in his monthly public security report.
“During the month of September, there were 136 visits, with five expulsions for being in the park after 11 p.m. and four individuals were investigated for drug-related activities,” Elfassy said. “The operation was conducted from May 15 to Sept. 15. In total, throughout this period, we had 1,126 visits to parks, 33 drug interventions and 38 expulsions for being in the park after 11 p.m.”
The councillor said the security presence in parks is continuing year round on its regular schedule.
A second, pool safety, operation was conducted this year by the department.
“This was accepted and welcomed by our residents and many neighbouring cities,” Elfassy explained. “Public security concluded its pool inspection safety program that was also conducted from May 15 to Sept. 15. In all, 306 pools were visited, 49 warnings were issued in unsecured premises and given 48 hours to rectify the problem - all but three complied, so we had three notices of infraction issued for non-compliance.”
Elfassy also reported that in September, public security responded to request for medical assistance on Briardale involving a 99-year-old woman “who had fallen and was unable to get up.
“With another woman, her daughter, an officer helped to pick her up and put her on a chair. Even though no apparent injury was seen, Urgences Santé was called and took care of the problem.”
In another case, at 3 p.m. Sept. 4, patrolling security officers saw two suspicious men walking on Stratford.
“When the officer approached the two, they took off running. He began to pursue them, and he was then [met] by a Finchley Road resident, who saw them breaking into cars on that street. The information was relayed to the police, and 11 officers along with public security were able to locate the two, and they were arrested.”n