Proactive Enforcement Team works to clean up Downtown Vagrancy in St. Paul

Over the past few months the St Paul RCMP Proactive Enforcement Team have been making numerous patrols and observations throughout the Town of St Paul.

One of the prevalent issues noticed and addressed, is the vagrancy problems in the downtown core.  In dealing with these issues officers noted that some persons are abusing more alternative intoxicants in addition to liquor and as seen in the past. Therefore the Proactive Enforcement Team has teamed up with local businesses, the hospital, addictions services and the health unit to combat the abuse of these dangerous alternatives.

Substances such as hairspray and mouthwash have been seen as problematic in the past. However, more recently, hand sanitizer has been seen as being consumed and resulting in extreme levels of intoxication with dangerous effects on health. Hand sanitizer is designed for external use only, and the non-medicinal contents are not intended for consumption.

Police would like to advise any persons, vendors, and businesses to be aware of this trend and help keep the community safe. Passing any information or questions about this matter is appreciated and useful in helping police deal with this matter. As always, Alberta Health Services is also available for support and assistance in dealing with addictions and related health issues. For more information contact local RCMP at 780-645-8870 or Alberta Health Services at 780-645-6346.