Community rids Louis Street of crime

A Sudbury neighbourhood that once had the highest crime rates in the city now has one of the lowest, and police say it's all because the people who live there have taken control.

Louis Street, just off Notre Dame Ave., used to be the scene of assaults, drug deals and troubled youth.

On average, police were called to the street 15 times a week.

In the last month, police have been called to the street only once, and Sudbury Police Chief Frank Elsner said Thursday it's because the residents formed acommunity association and took charge of what goes on there.

"When they see something that doesn't belong or people that aren't acting accordingly they will do something about it themselves or they will have the police involved," Elsner said.

Elizabeth Davis was the driving force behind organizing the Louis Street Community Association, and she said it was because she was afraid to step outside her own home with her kids.

"It was very intimidating, it was very fearful to think that, you know, your kids couldn't go outside to play because you didn't know what to expect," she said.

Davis lives in a social housing complex, and she said it was a hotbed of criminal activity.

"From burglary to theft to assault," she said.

She was tired of feeling unsafe all the time, so she formed the association two years ago.

Since then the members of the group have built community gardens, hosted barbecues. They hold weekly meetings to discuss issues and plan community events.

Her street has since experienced a drastic drop in the rate of crime.

"We've had some arrests made. We've had some places shut down. So I think the message is out there that the community isn't tolerating [criminal behaviour].

Davis said the complex has become less of a prison and more of a home.

"People are talking more now. They're coming together more now."