Victoria to pay police force to protect bylaw officers visiting homeless camps in city parks

The City of Victoria is now paying itspolice force to protectbylaw officers who visit homeless camps in local parks after city staff said they have been faced with threats of violence.

Council approved the motion on Feb. 18to provide police with $75,000. The money will be used to pay for two officers four hours a day, seven days a week, until the end of March.

It is estimated there are up to 300campers living in about 10 parks in Greater Victoria.

Mayor Lisa Helpsand police chiefDel Manak told CBCit is only a few people in a few parks not all campers who are putting bylaw officers and other campers at risk.

"I want all our staff to be safe," Helps said during an interview onCBC's All Points West Friday.

I also would not want to be a woman living alone in a city park, said the mayor, adding those people need protection as well.

Manak, who requested the funds from council last Thursday, said two bylaw officers were chased from a park that morning by a camper brandishing a shovel and threatening to hurt them.

• Clickhere to listen to Dal Manak's Feb. 23 interview on CBC's On The Island

The pair took refuge in a vehicle and called police.

Manak said the man was "extremely agitated and really ready to assault them." Policewill now be present on park patrolsto prevent that from happening.

Manak told Gregor Craigie, host of CBC's On The Island Monday, that some campers feel they have the right to do whatever they want in the parks and that can lead to confrontation with bylaw officers who visit regularly.

Not only are those visits to check on campers' needs, but also to monitor how campers and their structures are affecting park grounds.

"It's not every camper, there is a spectrum," Manak said. "It really can depend on if somebody is experiencing a drug psychosis or a mental health breakdown."

The funding is in place until March, whenHelps has said allpermanent camping in city parks will end.

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