Police say they have few tools to deal with those ‘socializing’ near outreach centre in Charlottetown [Video]

Charlottetown’s Police Chief says it’s “disappointing” to hear people saying they are worried about their safety living in the eastern end of the city, where the provincial Community Outreach Centre and emergency overnight shelter recently put down roots.

At a meeting last week, about 150 people came out to talk about what they consider dramatic changes to their neighbourhood.

Some have found people sleeping in their backyards. Others see needles and other drug paraphernalia discarded on their properties. Some say it’s making them nervous about walking on a popular trail near their homes. 

“The outreach centre in that part of the city and the homeless shelter has caused an impact,” Chief Brad MacConnell told Wayne Thibodeau on CBC Radio’s Island Morning. “It’s our job to try to minimize that impact, and I think over the last year, we have done a pretty good job at doing that.” 

Since the provincial government …