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Windsor, Ont., police have begun arresting individuals for openly using illegal drugs on the streets after public criticism of such behavior. Deputy Chief Ken Cribley announced that despite uncertainty about prosecution due to a 2020 directive from federal lawyers, the police service will track how these charges progress through the courts. The Windsor Police Service also emphasizes its Nurse Police Team initiative, which aims to connect people with social services even during arrests for open drug use.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Windsor, Ont., police have started arresting people for using illegal drugs in public despite uncertainty about prosecutions. This change came after 2020 when the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) instructed prosecutors to avoid pursuing simple drug possession cases unless they were considered serious. The shift follows public criticism over police not intervening when seeing individuals openly using drugs downtown. Deputy Chief Ken Cribley announced the policy change this summer, stating that the force heard concerns "loud and clear" about why officers would drive past people actively using drugs without making an arrest.
Written for “Drug Charges In Public Places” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Windsor, Ont., police now charging people using illegal drugs in public despite prosecution uncertainty
asserted
police → charge → uncertainty
Police service changes directive after public criticizes open drug use downtown
Windsor, Ont., police officers are no longer just driving by individuals openly using illegal drugs on the streets.
asserted
officers → change → streets
They're now stopping to arrest and charge them.
asserted
They → stop → them
Police have always been able to lay those simple drug possession charges, but in 2020, federal lawyers were instructed to avoid prosecuting them unless they were considered serious cases.
asserted
they → lay → them
For years, police in the southwestern Ontario city stopped making such arrests because it was unlikely they'd be pursued in court.
asserted
they → stop → court
This summer, Deputy Chief Ken Cribley said the force's own directive changed after feedback from the public.
asserted
directive → say → public
"We've heard the concerns loud and clear," said Cribley.
asserted
Cribley → hear → concerns
"The question's been asked: 'Why can we see people openly doing drugs and a police car drove right by them?'
asserted
car → ask → them
That's been criticism we've received for the last year or a number of months."
asserted
we → receive → months
In 2020, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC), which pursues drug charges in court, told federal lawyers to avoid prosecuting simple drug possession charges unless they're considered "the most serious cases."
asserted
they → pursue → charges
"We've met with our Crowns and not every Crown attorney agrees to start laying charges for simple possession, but we've started to do that," said Cribley.
asserted
Cribley → meet → that
Service to track charges' progress through courts
asserted
Service → track → courts
When CBC News asked how local prosecutors are responding to an increase in simple possession charges laid by Windsor police, Cribley said, "that remains to be seen.
asserted
that → ask → police
"We will be tracking the numbers.
asserted
We → track → numbers
We're doing a project on it.
asserted
We → do → it
We're laying the charges, we're keeping stats and we're going to see how many make it through the courts."
asserted
many → lay → courts
The Windsor Police Service has touted the success of its Nurse Police Team (NPT), which puts an officer alongside a hospital nurse on the streets to offer help to vulnerable individuals.
asserted
which → tout → individuals
In fact, former chief Jason Bellaire will be one of the recipients receiving an award of excellence in innovation during the upcoming inaugural Windsor police chief's gala.
asserted
Bellaire → receive → gala
Even people being arrested for open drug use are being "put in contact with services," said Cribley.
asserted
Cribley → arrest → services
"Maybe not every time we're making an arrest, but in those cases too, our NPT will be there.
asserted
NPT → make → cases
We also have police who ride with social workers," he added.
asserted
he → have → workers
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