KITCHENER -- An increasing number of incidents in Guelph over the past few years have prompted police to add resources to the downtown core.
The Guelph Police Service is launching a six-month pilot project that will see a stronger police presence in the area.
Starting on April 1, four more officers will begin patrolling downtown Guelph.
The pilot project comes after a recent rash of crimes in the area.
There have been two fatal incidents so far this year. In January, a 63-year-old man working as a security guard was allegedly assaulted at the Guelph train station.
Last month, a stabbing left a 27-year-old man dead outside of a business downtown.
Mayor Cam Guthrie says the pilot project will help keep the downtown core safe.
"There's been some thefts, there's been some vandalism, there's been, I would say, aggressive panhandling in some cases as well, and just a feel of unease sometimes within the downtown core," Guthrie says.
"It’s still a thriving and great area. I mean it’s fantastic and we’re very safe here, but it’s just a slow kind of creep of these issues building over the last few years."
Guelph police will hold an information session on the pilot project on Thursday afternoon.
