Town Coun. Brian Willows wants a clearer understanding on the policy toward picking up and holding people heavily intoxicted.

He said during a council meeting earlier this month that incidents of excessive drunkenness in the streets have been noted in the community.

Willows complained during the June 15 regular council meetingSA国际影视传媒檚 May policing report that the Hay River Regional Health Centre has been taking in four to five heavily intoxicated people a night in recent weeks and that it is beginning to wear on the morale of both nursing staff and fire department and ambulance volunteers.

He said he is unable to get answers on why the appears to have stopped using cells for people who are picked up under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen was the policy made that the would no longer operate a drunk tank, for the lack of a better word,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 just wondering is that a national policy directive that this is something that they no longer do or is that a divisional decision where these things are just happening in the North?SA国际影视传媒�

There was no clear understanding around the council table, either, but the policy has has created SA国际影视传媒渦nintended consequencesSA国际影视传媒� on first responders doing their work in the community, Willows said.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is all new,SA国际影视传媒� Willows said. SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 think it comes as any surprise to anyone that have been downtown in the last couple months, that the face of our community has changed drastically.SA国际影视传媒�

WillowsSA国际影视传媒� question was relayed to the NWT by The Hub.

Marie York-Condon, media spokesperson for the NWT G Division said in a statement that police officers are trying to avoid using cells unless there is criminal behaviour involved.

SA国际影视传媒淣T is committed to working with partner agencies to place persons whom are unable to care for themselves, or at risk, in appropriate safe environments,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淗ay River is committed to finding alternative solutions to community based issues with the support services available in the community. is working towards ensuring addiction and homelessness are not criminalized and only those who have committed a crime will be lodged in the SA国际影视传媒檚 cells.SA国际影视传媒�

The monthly report provided to town council states that the issue is a problem that is draining police resources.

SA国际影视传媒淥f note, there has been a marked increase in the number of calls for service received related to vagrancy and intoxicated subjects in public,SA国际影视传媒� the report states.

Police say that one individual was addressed 20 times while another was picked up 25 times.

SA国际影视传媒淚n all instances, public intoxication was the paramount concern reported and the police response is generally to locate a safe place for the individual(s) to be escorted which is very time consuming,SA国际影视传媒� states the report. SA国际影视传媒淭his is very taxing on police resources which are diverted from the three identified priorities, however a reality that cannot be ignored.SA国际影视传媒�

No police representatives were present for the meeting, nor was Mayor Kandis Jameson in attendance. But other councillors agreed with WillowsSA国际影视传媒� comments.

SA国际影视传媒淭he downtown core is really impacting the community and the loitering thatSA国际影视传媒檚 going on downtown is not acceptable,SA国际影视传媒� agreed Coun. Steve Anderson.

Terry Rowe, president of the Hay River Chamber of Commerce said he has been in contact with downtown business owners who are members. They say it SA国际影视传媒渋snSA国际影视传媒檛 much of an issue.

SA国际影视传媒漁f course we see some loitering and maybe public intoxication but the local police respond well with these issues and usually know the individuals well and seem to have a rapport with them,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淚ndividuals that loiter are community members and are respectful when treated with respect.SA国际影视传媒�

The Hub attempted to interview Willows but he referred all questions to Jameson.

When reached on June 18, she said she was expecting to raise the issue with the this week. However she said that she is concerned about the strain on the townSA国际影视传媒檚 volunteer fire and ambulance crew.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think it is going to take partnerships to figure out how to deal with this. It is an issue.SA国际影视传媒� she said, emphasising that her emergency personnel are donating their time and have full time jobs. SA国际影视传媒淚f we have a lot of calls it puts a lot of strain on ambulance system when they are taken to hospital and they take a lot of the stress on.SA国际影视传媒�

Dale Snow, acting CEO of the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority said that it isnSA国际影视传媒檛 uncommon for the health centre to assess and treat people under the influence of drugs and alcohol. This has especially been the case since the townSA国际影视传媒檚 night homeless shelter closed in April.

SA国际影视传媒淪ince the closure of the night shelter, we have noticed an increase in the number of vulnerable clients that we see, assess and treat for various medical concerns,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淭he increase in COVID cases across Canada during the past few months has placed an extra strain on our Territorial healthcare system resulting in more client admissions, increased bed needs, and thus more expectations on our already busy staff.SA国际影视传媒�