Recently, when Hamilton police noticed an increase in crime around James Street South, they sent core patrol officers to the area.

That’s why on Oct. 2, when there was a knifepoint robbery near James and Duke streets, they were already there.

Two officers, newly deployed to the area, caught the suspect immediately, said Supt. Robin Abbott.

It’s a perfect example of how the core patrol unit uses data to tailor when, where and how it responds to crime downtown.

Core patrol began as a pilot in 2023 in response to concerns from downtown businesses about increased crime and public disorder. In September, the Hamilton Police Services Board made the unit permanent and expanded it from six to eight officers. They will continue to patrol the 1.3-square-kilometre area bound by Wellington,

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