How is the City of Fredericton investing in public safety?

    Our community is facing challenging times, but as a City, we’re dedicated to creating a safer city for everyone.

    The City is investing in community safety and working to address crime in practical ways.

    • The Community Safety Services Unit (CSSU) proactively addresses community concerns, responding to incidents related to trail etiquette, vandalism, and cleanliness incidents. 
    • The 2025 Budget includes investing an additional $100,000 for more public safety cameras in Fredericton. Right now, the City has 26 public safety cameras, with an additional four community cameras (webcams) and several other infrastructure cameras.  
    • The City established the Atlantic Police Academy satellite training facility to address recruitment issues in policing. Starting this November, 12 new cadets will begin training and, upon completion, will join the ranks of the Fredericton Police Force.  
    • We are investing in improved lighting along our trails to ensure they are safer and brighter.
    • The new Community Safety Task Force will bring together decision makers from all orders of government, along with community stakeholders. The task force will create actionable strategies to address public safety concerns in the city, reduce crime and improve community well-being. 
    • We continue to work collaboratively with other community leaders, partner agencies, and those with decision-making and funding authority outside of what the City is mandated to do, to help address these issues and provide support to everyone involved. 
    • We continue to work towards building a coordinated network of professionals between Police, not-for-profits, health and social care providers, and other service providers to ensure connected responses when dealing with the city’s vulnerable population.



    How does the City handle public safety calls on a day-to-day basis?

    The City has a dispatch centre that ensures a rapid response to emergencies and public safety issues. To date, in 2024, over 30,000 dispatch calls were answered to address incidents swiftly and effectively.


    How does by-law enforcement contribute to public safety?

    By-law enforcement addresses local issues and manages risks, such as storm preparedness, zoning regulations, property maintenance, and accessibility concerns, to help prevent and mitigate potential problems.


    How does the City use public safety cameras?

    The City operates 26 public safety cameras, 4 community webcams, and additional infrastructure cameras. These cameras helps monitor public spaces for safety, and the City has plans for further expansion of the public safety camera program, in 2025. 

    What is the CSSU?

    CSSU stands for Community Safety and Services Unit. The CSSU handles non-criminal issues like by-law enforcement and community engagement, improving safety without adding more police. They are un-armed but are trained in de-escalation and mental health protocols and can share resources to support distressed individuals. They also document and reports vandalism incidents to the appropriate authorities. 

    What does it mean when the CSSU says they help people who are experiencing housing insecurity?

    The CSSU connects unhoused individuals with support services like shelters or food banks and compassionately addresses safety concerns. It is not law enforcement, and the CSSU does not handle arrests or relocations. 

    Are CSSU members peace officers or security guards? Where do they patrol?

    CSSU members are not peace officers or security guards. They patrol business improvement areas downtown and, on the Northside, trails and public spaces. 

    Is the CSSU available 24/7?

    CSSU operations have temporarily expanded to 24/7 during this winter trial period, responding to community demand for round-the-clock safety services. 

    Why is the City not hiring more police officers?

    The City is addressing police recruitment with a partnership through the Atlantic Police Academy bringing a satellite training program launching in early 2025, allowing CSSU to focus on community-level concerns and freeing officers for high-priority calls.

    What is Bill C-75? 

    A federal bill, called C-75, enacted in 2019, brought several changes to the Canadian criminal justice system, including how arrests and bail are handled for individuals identified as:

    • Those impacted by addiction
    • People of lesser means
    • Vulnerable populations

    The Police, Judiciary, and Crown are mandated to follow the guidelines set in the Criminal Code of Canada when it comes to determining who is held or released.