Ottawa, ON (WNews) – According to Ottawa police, almost 25 percent of the 418 trucks still participating in the ongoing demonstration downtown have children. This has slowed the force’s response and raised concerns about the safety of the children.
During what they call an “occupation” of the downtown core, now in its 12th day, police have issued tickets, arrested more people, and launched dozens more criminal investigations, Deputy Chief Steve Bell reported Tuesday afternoon.
As of noon Tuesday, police say they have arrested 23 people and there are currently 85 active criminal investigations.
Bell also focused on protesters’ children. Children who remained on Parliament Hill were entertained with bouncy castles over the weekend. As far as those children are concerned, Bell said the police are working with the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa.
“It’s something that greatly concerns us,” Bell said, as first responders are worried about the constant exposure to carbon monoxide, fumes, noise levels,, and the sanitation of the children.
“We’ll rely on the Children’s Aid Society to help provide and give us guidance around that. We just think it’s an additional factor that complicates and makes this an even more challenging operation.”
CBC reported that the society confirmed it is working with Ottawa police. It also said that it has a duty to investigate allegations of abuse and whether a child may need protection.
Several protesters have also been carrying jerry cans filled with water into the protest area, which has created difficulties for officers who need to stop and search for those who have fuel, Bell said.
“This move identifies a level of sophistication and a level of ability of this group to try and subvert police efforts. That’s concerning to us,” he said.
Bell said police were also looking into a stockpile of fuel located at the camp set up on Coventry Road and officers are trying “to disrupt and deter these people from remaining in our city.”
There have also been active attempts to interfere with police’s ability to remove vehicles in the downtown core, he said. Some vehicles have wheels removed or lack brake fluid. A number of tow truck companies on city contracts have refused to tow vehicles from the protest.
It said Monday it would review those companies’ contracts and consider possible actions against them. Bell said police were also looking outside Ottawa to see if other municipalities could assist in removing the large trucks.