Survey shows vast majority of Vancouverites concerned with crime, safety in Gastown

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Nearly eighty per cent of those living and working in Vancouver are concerned about crime in the city, with growing concerns centered around crime in Gastown.

That’s according to a new survey commissioned by the Vancouver Police Department.

Deputy Chief Howard Chow with the VPD says for most, having a sense of safety is often the most important issue, especially for business owners.

“We know that one of the reasons Vancouver ranks as a top city in the world is the sense of safety. Safety and security underscores and underpins all these surveys,” he says. “If this deteriorates there will be implications for our way of life, economic consequences for businesses, and the impact on tourism.”

Jacob Visser is the manager of Yaletown’s Brooklyn Clothing, and says the results aren’t surprising, given he’s experienced an increase in crime in the area that has ultimately affected his business.

“At first we increased our staff, which meant more of a cost, when that didn’t work, we got a security guard on for at least 3 or 4 months.”

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Things escalated at one point, and prompted Visser to install security bars across the windows in his business.

“One break-in was a guy just walking by who smashed the windows and stole a jacket, the second break-in was definitely more organized.”

Sixty one per cent of respondents say they believe that crime has gotten worse in the past year.

Those numbers are not surprising to the owner of Gastown’s Inform Interior.

Nancy Bendsten says she has witnessed people using drugs and defecating near her store.

“It seems like it’s not important to keep crime off the streets and it’s rampant here. I’ve had employees not wanting to work, it’s hard to walk to and from parking in the dark.”

Gastown is one of the top four neighbourhoods that survey respondents say they avoid in Vancouver, with more than one third saying they’ve changed their routines or behaviours in the city because of concerns about crime.

And some are avoiding specific neighbourhoods altogether.

In response to the survey results, the VPD has launched a neighbourhood response team with the purpose of quickly disputing street disorder.