By Canadian Press

New Vancouver policing district for Downtown Eastside as task force results unveiled

Sep 8, 2025 | 3:23 PM

VANCOUVER — Plans are underway to establish a new policing district in the Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, after a temporary task force in the neighbourhood produced what police are calling “significant” results.

Vancouver Police Chief Const. Steve Rai says the formation of a new police district in the Downtown Eastside will initially draw from the reallocation of existing resources but will eventually require additional investment.

The development comes as the City of Vancouver unveils data from Task Force Barrage, an operation to target organized crime, violent offenders and street disorder in the neighbourhood.

Police and Mayor Ken Sim say that in the six months of the task force’s operation from February to August, violent crime in the Downtown Eastside fell to its lowest level in 23 years, down 18 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Rai says the task force’s funding will wind down by mid-October, and details of the funding required for the new policing district will come later.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 8, 2025.

Chuck Chiang, The Canadian Press