A new Windsor police unit targeting crime in the city core is making a difference.
From October 8 to November 6, the 'Problem Oriented Policing' or 'POP' unit made 82 arrests resulting in 125 charges.
"We are finding that it has been extremely effective and we are having great success with the limited resources that we are currently using," says Windsor Police Deputy Chief Brad Hill. "We obviously hope to have more resources once we are able to hire the 12 officers."
Earlier this summer, city council backed a $1.4-million proposal to hire 12 new officers, but those hires haven't happened yet. The current officers in the POP unit have been been transferred from other units.
Deputy Police Chief Brad Hill points out in addition to the arrests, there were 308 actions between police and the public.
Eight people were returned to their jurisdictions.
"The idea is so that people don't think they can hide in our jurisdiction and avoid their criminal charges in other jurisdictions," says Deputy Chief Hill.
This was the first official stats released on the POP unit.
Meanwhile, the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association is bringing back an international crime expert Peter Belmio to examine the drugs and homeless issue.
Police Chief Al Frederick says a senior officer is at the table and is listening.
"We are going to listen, and there is no question about that and we will contribute as well, I think there is going to be a need for some data and as long as it is data that we can share, we will."
But Chief Frederick admits Windsor doesn't have limitless resources to deal with the issue.
"I think that in the past his [Belmio] recommendations have been extremely expensive, so I think if you have a bottomless pit as far as money goes, you can make lots of changes. But it is working within the parameters of current budgets and resources and like I say, we are at the table, we are going to listen to what he has to say and we will go from there."