Hamilton police no longer responding to noise complaints, leaving overnight enforcement gap

Hamilton police have quietly stopped responding to overnight noise complaints that don't pose a threat to public safety.

Previously, a police and bylaw officer teamed up to respond to overnight complaints on the busiest nights Thursday to Saturday, from May toSeptember,andFridays and Saturdays the rest of the year,according to a communications update to council in December.

But as of two months ago, policestopped its participation because of "pressures and challenges with staffing,"said spokesperson Jackie Penman, when contacted byCBC Hamilton this week.

"Hamilton police will only get involved if it impacts public safety," she said.

Without police support, the city's bylaw officers are no longer doing any noise enforcement after 1 a.m. on weekends for "safety reasons," the communications update said.

Team responded to 935 complaints last year

As of Tuesday morning, neither the police nor the city have made apublic announcement or changed their websites both of whichdirect the public to call the police's non-emergency lineafter business hourswithnoise-related concerns.

Penman advised CBC Hamilton to contact the city about what the public should do if they have a noise complaint after 1 a.m. The city did not provide a comment at the time of publishing this story.

Penman saidthis type of police work is considered to be "paid duty," when off-duty officers work with the city, and officers were not longer taking those shifts. Theforce has "realigned" its resources to maintain its services, meet increasing workload demands and mitigate what she said was anincrease in the severity of violentcrime,she added.

Last year, the noise enforcement team responded to 935 noise complaints and laid 53 charges, primarily in the summer months, the communications update said.

In itsproposed budget for this year, police have requested an increase of $12 million, bringing the total to nearly $190 million and comprising 18 per cent of the city's overall budget. Chief Frank Bergen described it as a "maintenance budget" at a council meeting last month.

But the ask is controversial assome residents argue the city should spendless money on law enforcement and more onsocial services. Council will vote on the budget later in March.