Regina’s decommissioning of a homeless encampment, unlike Saskatoon, led to five arrests.

In a news release the Regina Police Service says around 6:00 p.m. yesterday evening, after being asked numerous times to vacate the Core Community Park, five people were arrested and charged with obstructing a police officer. On e person was also charged with assaulting a police officer.

Tuesday Regina Fire and Protective Services ordered the encampment be decommissioned due to “an imminent threat to life and public safety.” There had been three fires over three days with one of the fires resulting in an injury.

Earlier this month the City of Saskatoon removed the encampment at 20th Street and Avenue K South with about 120 people needing to find a new place to stay. Crews also removed about 80 tents and temporary structures.

The Saskatoon Fire Department said between midnight October 5th and October 7th they had been called to four fires at encampments where one destroyed a tent and spread to nearby trees in Optimist Park, another – six hours later – spread to bushes and trees in the same park. Fire officials said another in the backyard of a vacant property destroyed a makeshift shelter and damaged a fence while one the night of October 5th got out of control in a park off Idylwyld Drive.

In Regina members of the Community Services Division, Investigative Services Division, Crisis Negotiators, and Public Safety Unit (PSU) worked collaboratively with Regina Fire and Protective Services (RFPS), the Ministry of Social Services (MSS), and the City of Regina to assist with the removal of all occupants from Core Community Park.