Post on : February 18, 2025

The Downtown Safety Coalition (DSC) is leading a multi-point action plan to improve the safety of everyone who works or visits downtown. One point of this plan is the deployment of private security patrols downtown. Our goal of the program is to provide foot patrol seven days a week supplemented by a mobile unit.

The next phase of the program began in February and will run until the end of May. Work is currently underway on the Summer/Fall 2025 phase of the program.

This phase of the project is funded by the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the George Street Association and the Downtown St. John’s Business Commission.

Independent Security Services Atlantic (ISS) will be patrolling the area highlighted below providing security and support to all persons in the downtown including the businesses that operate there. They are not a replacement for the RNC, rather they are an additional level of the security net of our community.

ISS patrol area:

Water Street from Queen Street to Prescott Street.

George Street from Beck’s Cove/Water Street to Queen Street.

Duckworth Street from Queen Street to Prescott Street.

  • Deter and report criminal activity including any type of violence or theft.
  • Arrest suspects that ISS witness committing a crime.
  • Support businesses and the people who work downtown.
  • Operate as ambassadors for downtown, welcoming and informing visitors.
  • Provide support to the RNC where applicable.
    ISS Patrol Support: 709 693 4549
    ISS Supervisor: 709 693 5995     or armorednl@iat.ns.ca

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CALL THE RNC BY DIALING 911

Report any suspicious activity in the downtown area to ISS and RNC.

DSC History

The Downtown Safety Coalition (DSC) is a working group formed in 2022 to tackle the complex safety issues in downtown St. John’s. This group comprises members of the Provincial Government, City of St. John’s, Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, Destination St. John’s, Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador,
George Street Association, Downtown St. John’s, and Music NL.

DSC is leading a multi-point action plan to improve the safety of everyone who works or visits downtown. One point of this plan is the deployment of private security patrols within the Downtown St. John’s Business Commission district. Phase 1 concentrated on George Street and ran from July to November 2023. Since February 2024, patrols have included a larger portion of the area, from Prescott Street to Queen Street on Water Street and Duckworth Street. Our goal is to provide foot patrol seven days a week supplemented by a mobile ISS unit.

This phase of the project is funded by the Provincial Government, the George Street Association and the Downtown St. John’s Business Commission. It’s supported by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, Destination St. John’s, Hospitality NL, the City of St. John’s and Music NL.

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