ByWard Market and Downtown Rideau safety enforcement results: July 3-4
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, July 6, 2026 12:15 p.m.
(Ottawa) – The Ottawa Police Service (OPS), along with its enforcement partners, continued the Market Safe Initiative in the ByWard Market area on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4.
The initiative is part of an enhanced police presence in the ByWard Market and Downtown Rideau area this summer, with officers and partners working together to address disorderly conduct, support local businesses and residents, and improve public safety.
Over the two-day initiative, officers conducted proactive patrols, traffic enforcement, licensed establishment walkthroughs, and alcohol-related enforcement.
Enforcement results:
- 84 alcohol interventions (i.e. pouring out open alcohol being carried outside licensed establishments)
- 60 inspections/walkthroughs at licensed establishments
- 13 traffic-related stops/interactions
- 13 by-law infractions (e.g. smoking on patios)
- 3 Provincial Offence Notices
- 2 arrests (individual breaching conditions; wanted person in relation to firearms offences)
Officers also issued several warnings related to Highway Traffic Act offences, open liquor, smoking on patios, and other compliance issues. One licence plate was seized for misuse, and officers seized a quantity of cannabis from a vehicle in the area.
During the initiative, officers and enforcement partners conducted multiple walkthroughs at licensed establishments and followed up on concerns related to alcohol compliance, crowd management, and patio activity.
The OPS will continue to work with City and provincial enforcement partners throughout the summer to support a safe environment for residents, visitors, businesses, and frontline workers in the ByWard Market and Downtown Rideau area.
Anyone who witnesses criminal activity or has information about public safety concerns in the area is encouraged to contact police at 613-236-1222. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at crimestoppers.ca.
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Through the Community Safety Data portal data.ottawapolice.ca, members of the public can view, download, and interact with data released by the Ottawa Police Service.
Help make your community safer: register your information and security camera location at CAMSafe.ca to support investigations.
CONTACT:
Media Relations
Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366
